Achi news desk-
Alberta has already seen more wildfires start this year than at the same time in last year’s devastating wildfire season and, according to Forestry and Parks Minister Todd Loewen, the province is on track to meet hiring targets for more firefighters.
“I know Albertans are feeling nervous as we head further into the 2024 wildfire season,” Loewen said at a news conference held at the Alberta legislature Thursday morning.
The news conference is the first of weekly news conferences the provincial government plans to hold this wildfire season as dry conditions raise fears about the potential severity of this year’s wildfire season.
“We hear your desire for more frequent communication regarding the risk, status and impacts of wildfires across the state,” Loewen said.
He noted that approximately 30 to 35 more workers are being hired for the wildfire season by the province each week and that he expects all planned crews to be hired and ready to work by date shut down the government itself on 15 May.
Alberta Wildfire information unit manager Christie Tucker noted that the province’s firefighter hiring efforts are currently 39 per cent ahead of where they were at this time last year.
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He said more than 500 people, existing and new employees, had already received wildfire training in Hinton this year, in a center he described as “the envy of the country.”
“We’ve aimed for a majority employed by mid-April and we’re there,” Tucker said. “Our next milestone is May 15 and we are on track.”
Alberta’s 2024 budget includes an additional $151 million over the next three years for the base budget of wildfire prevention and fighting, ahead of what is expected to be another challenging fire season.
Earlier this year, the provincial government announced that the budget would include funding to hire 100 new seasonal wildfire fighters, which will result in five additional 20-person crews.
That is in addition to the 900 firefighters the province lost in 2023.
Loewen said in addition to regular, permanent, full-time staff, Alberta now has 297 “government firefighters,” 280 “tack firefighters” and 172 “seasonal support staff.”
Wildfire danger still exists despite cold temperatures
With much of Alberta experiencing snowfall and colder-than-normal April temperatures this week, Tucker said she wants to remind Albertans that the risk of wildfires remains.
“The long-term drought conditions we’ve experienced in Alberta mean that it’s still possible for trees and grasses to burn, especially in the strong winds we’ve been seeing,” he said. “We started this year with 64 wildfires still burning from last year. Firefighters are entering the spring with a heavier fire load than usual.”
Loewen also spoke about the early risk and the government’s decision to declare the start of Alberta’s wildfire season earlier than usual this year. He said, however, that early preparations allow the province to “come into this wildfire season very strong.”
“All fireworks are currently maintained, under control or extinguished.”
–with files from Karen Bartko, Global News
& copy 2024 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
