Alberta addresses wildfire concerns

By Brandie Majeau
The Alberta Forestry and Parks Minister, Todd Loewen, hosted a rural media roundtable
on April 30 to address concerns and response plans for this years wildfire season.
Loewen announced that hundreds of Alberta Wildfire response team members are
trained and ready to respond, assuring Albertans that the government has been
diligently preparing for months to enhance the response time and management of
the wildfires in Alberta.
As much of Alberta received snow or rain precipitation over the past week, Alberta’s
Wildfire team breathes a sigh of relief at the reduced risk in the upcoming weeks.
However, as Minister Loewen discussed, so much is dependant on the weather and
the government is only a partial piece of the wildfire season. With the current wildfires
this year, it has been found that 77% of them so far have been caused by people.
Minister Todd Loewen stressed the importance and preventative actions of individuals
and communities and the need to be aware of and follow bans and restrictions.
Minister Loewen also acknowledged the ongoing communications between
municipalities and the Alberta Wildfire Department, the expectations, and clarifications
of who is in charge and who is responsible for responding. With the unprecedented
wildfires of 2023, the Alberta government is preparing and is focused on getting the
message out to Albertans to remain calm but be prepared.
Communities may consider the community fireguard program, fire services training, and
FireSmart educational programs. Individuals are asked to share the responsibility of
reducing the threat of wildfire by participating in preventative measures.
As the wildlife season begins, Minister Loewen explained new strategies and learning
methods from the extensive experience of First Nations fire fighting teams to develop
strategies such as nighttime fire fighting. Due to the usually reduced temperatures and
increased humidity at night, teams can use drones for thermal imaging and helicopters
equipped with night vision capabilities to fight 24 hours a day to target and suppress
wildfires. The Alberta government is also using AI technology to assist in planning and

predicting potential fire activity and fuel loads.
For up-to-date information on wildfire status and locations, prevention and
preparedness, and wildfire career opportunities, visit alberta.ca/alberta-wildfire. Staying
informed is key to being prepared and ensuring the safety of our communities.