Wildfire season is already off to a wild start in Alberta.
Last season, a record 2.2 million hectares of land burned up. That’s double the number of the last provincial record set decades ago in 1981.
We also had ten times the average number of fires that continued to burn over winter, creating an earlier-than-ever start to our wildfire season.
As we move into an especially dry month of May, Alberta currently has 45 active wildfires, two of which are of note: wildlife MWF017 is currently classified as out of control at over 21,000 hectares and has caused the recent evacuation of over 6600 people from Fort McMurray.
Wildfire GCU-007 (The Kleskun Creek Fire) is an out-of-control 1382-ha wildfire 4 km east of the town of Teepee Creek. An evacuation order in the areas of Kleskun Creek North and the Riverstone Golf Course remains in effect and is being actively enforced by the RCMP
In neighbouring BC, the 84-square-kilometre Parker Lake wildfire has forced the evacuation of 4700 people from Fort Nelson.
Wildfires are a potential threat to many communities across western Canada, so we gathered information on how to prepare.
Know The Lingo
To start, let’s clarify the advisory notices you might encounter this summer. Here’s a list of the most common terms you’re likely to see.
- Out of control: A fire that isn’t responding to firefighting efforts and is likely to expand. Even if a wildfire seems to be burning with low intensity or limited growth, it can still be considered out of control if it hasn’t been contained.
- Being held: A fire is being held when a boundary has been established around the flames, which is expected to prevent further spread given the current or predicted weather conditions. However, this does not mean that the fire has been completely extinguished or is considered “under control.”
- Under control: A fire that can no longer advance, though firefighters may still be working to extinguish hot spots and monitor the area for any new activity.
- Turned over: A wildfire that has been contained and handed back to the landowner, which could be an industry, municipality, or private property owner.
- Fireline: A break in fuel made by cutting, scraping, or digging to control a wildfire.
- Burnover: An event in which a fire moves through a location or overtakes personnel or equipment where there is no opportunity to utilize escape routes and safety zones. Burnover often results in personal injury or equipment damage.
- Defensible Space: An area around a structure where vegetation has been managed to reduce fire risk.
- Fire advisory: This is an alert indicating increased fire danger. Fire permits might be limited or suspended, but safe wood campfires and charcoal briquette barbecues are still permitted.
- Fire restriction: A rule that forbids wood campfires on public land but permits them in provincial campgrounds and on private property. Charcoal barbecues are also allowed. Fire permits may be restricted, suspended, or cancelled, with no new permits issued.
- Fire ban: A prohibition on wood campfires and charcoal barbecues on all types of property. Existing fire permits will be suspended or cancelled, and no new permits will be issued.
- Evacuation alert: This alert warns of a potential threat. Communities issued an alert should prepare to evacuate, as an evacuation order could be imminent.
- Evacuation order: This is given when the public must evacuate the area for their safety.
Keep Up To Date
You can see the location of all the wildfires currently burning in Alberta on Albert Wildfire or simply go to TheRockies.Life fire page for real-time updates.
Both pages track every fire burning right now, as well as any bans and advisories you should know about!
If you’re looking for a more concise summary, the Wildfires of Note page provides just that. It lists the most critical fires that currently pose threats to people or infrastructure, making it essential information for the general public.
If you’re concerned about how fires might affect your travel plans, Alberta 511 is an excellent resource. It offers updates on highway conditions and closures, helping you plan any necessary detours.
For up-to-date reminders, you can download the Alberta Wildfire Status mobile app, which has everything you need to know in one place.
Stay updated by following Alberta Wildfire on Facebook, X, Instagram and YouTube.
Do Your Part
In Alberta, about 60% of wildfires from last season were directly caused by human activity.
Each one of us plays a crucial role in preventing wildfires, especially when we’re out and about on summer trips or activities. Knowing and respecting fire prohibitions is a responsibility we all share.
Alberta Parks lists such prohibitions within provincial parks and campgrounds, so you can know before you go.
Alberta’s FireSmart program is another resource for helping you avoid scenarios that could result in wildfires and teaching you the best responses if something goes wrong.
Last year, about a third of the wildfires were started by lightning strikes, and those fires burned the brightest, responsible for eight out of ten hectares of land that burned.
While circumstances like lighting are uncontrollable, the climate change-driven droughts we’re experiencing create the perfect conditions for these fires to burn out of control.
The decisions we make about climate policies and our commitment to transitioning away from fossil fuel use will impact future wildfire seasons in our province. It’s crucial to advocate for policies that address the root causes of these increasingly damaging wildfires.
Be Prepared For Anything
If you suddenly get an Evacuation Order, prepping ahead can make the biggest difference.
A little prep effort goes a long way.
The province says people should be prepared with everything they’d need to live away from home for at least three days – this means prepping an emergency kit before the emergency happens.
An emergency kit should contain all important documents, such as IDs, social insurance numbers, citizenship papers, passports, credit and bank cards and cash (in case the internet or cell phone network goes down.)
The kit should also include non-perishable snacks, like trail mix or energy bars, and as much water and electrolytes as you can bring. The minimum suggested is four litres of liquid per person per day and don’t forget food and water for your pets!
Medical supplies, such as bandages, sterilizing liquid, prescription medications, sunscreen, and insect repellent, are also necessary. As well as extra clothes, blankets and things like toilet paper and personal hygiene items
A multi-tool (pocket knife), a battery-powered crank or solar radio, flashlight, extra blankets, electronics with a vehicle charger, and a few items like card games or small toys to distract kids round out an essential emergency bag.
We also advise that you have a jerry can filled with gas and ready to go and never let your gas tank go below half-filled during wildfire season. If you have an EV, always keep the battery charged to full.
The other essential thing to have sorted before any disaster hits is, of course, insurance.
The Government of Alberta encourages all Albertans to talk with an insurance agent to understand what their policy will and will not cover.
Alberta does have disaster financial assistance programs that may be able to reimburse Albertans for uninsured items, but it’s better to have private insurance in place just in case.
The Canadian Red Cross has also launched disaster funding to help people affected by wildfires.
Creating a detailed inventory of your belongings in advance can significantly improve the process of filing insurance claims (keep these records and photos stored on the cloud so you can access them later).
If you do need to evacuate, be sure to keep records of all your expenses, as you may be eligible for reimbursement later. Again, take photos of the receipts with your phone so you have backup records.
You can stay up to date on emergencies through Alberta Emergency Alert.
On the Alert interactive map, yellow icons mark advisories essential for staying updated. Red icons are critical; if they affect you, you must take suggested actions immediately.
In An Emergency
Finally, the essential numbers you need to know in an emergency.
211 if you or someone else is in distress or in an unsafe place.
911 if in need of medical care.
And if you see a wildfire, report it immediately by calling Alberta Wildfire at 310-3473.
We all need to do our part to be prepared for emergencies, and the more we all take wildfire risk seriously, the more orderly and organized evacuations will be in case they happen.
