Wildfire season in Alberta starts March 1

The province’s Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry is reminding Albertans that wildfire season begins March 1.

The start of wildfire season in Alberta is one month earlier than in most other jurisdictions, and runs through Oct. 31, a media release states.

Almost all spring wildfires are caused by human activity.

“Most wildfires are preventable. More than 70 per cent of Alberta wildfires last year were caused by humans – and the McMillan wildfire near Slave Lake was started by arson,” says Minister Devin Dreeshen. “We will continue to promote prevention, provide adequate funding and improvements to forest management.”