A helicopter drops a bucket of water on the Chuckegg Creek wildfire west of High Level, Alta., in a Saturday, May 25, 2019, handout photo. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Government of Alberta, Chris Schwarz

By Troy Gillard

after last year's devastation...

2020 a ‘relatively quiet’ year for wildfires in Alberta

Nov 5, 2020 | 2:31 PM

Provincial officials say Alberta’s 2020 wildfire season that officially ended on Oct. 31 was “a relatively quiet season thanks to the diligence of Albertans, effective department preparations, and substantial precipitation in many areas of the province.”

In total, 703 wildfires burned 3,265 hectares (8,068 acres) this season, 0.8 per cent of total area burned compared with the five-year average.

This season’s largest fire, the Devil’s Head wildfire located north of Canmore and currently classified as being held, was started by an abandoned campfire.

The 2019 fire season was one of the worst on record in terms of hectares burned (more than 880,000 hectares or about 2.2 million acres) – second only to 1981. Seventy-one per cent of the wildfires were human-caused.

Alberta hired an additional 200 wildfire firefighters this year for a record total of 864.

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Meantime, the provincial government says it will take action on all 15 recommendations from an independent report on firefighting operations done after last year’s devastating wildfire season.

The review covered Alberta Wildfire preparedness and responsiveness to those wildfires and the government’s wildfire management program more generally. It also highlighted multiple examples of government success in wildfire management, such as initial attack, annual emergency management exercises and wildfire prevention.

“Alberta Wildfire is a world-class organization that protects Alberta families here and families around the world from wildfire. Constant, never-ending improvement is critical for emergency response organizations,” said Devin Dreeshen, Minister of Agriculture and Forestry. “This independent review will ensure our brave men and women who put themselves in harm’s way to protect our communities, can better coordinate, communicate and keep themselves safe.”

The province says the recommendations focus on actions to:

• Improve key areas of Alberta’s prevention programming, including outreach and communications, compliance and enforcement, and FireSmart activities

• Better prepare for current and forecasted wildfire hazards based on weather, ignition potential and values at risk

• Enhance the prioritization of wildfire response resources

• Modernize software systems used in wildfire management

• Minimize the costs associated with wildfire response and preparedness

• Enhance risk management and strategic response.

The province says they are already taking action on the recommendations in preparation for the 2021 wildfire season. They say some initiatives are expected to be completed by next spring, while others will take several years.

For example, the province is accelerating the implementation of Wildfire Management Plans in the province. Alberta Wildfire has also made recent improvements to the Wildfire Status Map. Incorporating stakeholder feedback, the updated map provides Albertans with real-time details about wildfire activity in the province.

Key to Alberta’s wildfire management strategy going forward will be engaging in a cost-benefit analysis of program spending, with a focus on major suppression costs such as helicopter and heavy equipment rates. This review will ensure more efficient program spending that maintains the high standards of Alberta Wildfire’s management program.