Minister of Forestry and Parks Todd Loewen, alongside Christie Tucker from Alberta Wildfire, and Stephen Lacroix, the Managing Director of the Alberta Emergency Management Agency, provided a comprehensive briefing this week. The officials detailed the ongoing efforts, current status, and future strategies in combating wildfires across the province.
Minister Todd Loewen mentıoned the recent rain and diligent efforts of firefighters as crucial factors in reducing the number of active wildfires. “The hard work and preparation from Alberta Wildfire and municipal firefighters allowed us to take advantage of the recent rains, leading to a significant decline in active wildfires since last week,” said Loewen.
As of now, 30 wildfires are burning in the forest protection area, with 20 being carryover wildfires from the 2023 season. Minister Loewen assured the public that all these fires are either under control or being held. He highlighted a specific wildfire from the Northwest Territories still burning along the border north of High Level, which poses little risk to infrastructure and is expected to be classified as being held soon.
Loewen shared the progress made compared to last year, noting a significant reduction in the area burned. “At this time last year, Alberta had over 520,000 hectares of forest burned, whereas so far in 2024, we have just under 29,000 hectares burned,” he stated, attributing this improvement to the enhanced response tactics and favorable weather conditions.
One notable success was the wildfire near Fort McMurray, which prompted an evacuation order but is now under control. The evacuation order has been lifted, allowing residents to return home. Loewen expressed gratitude to the affected individuals for their patience and praised the firefighters for their diligent work.
Despite the positive developments, Minister Loewen warned that wildfire conditions could change rapidly. “It’s important to remember that conditions can change very quickly in Alberta, leading to heightened wildfire danger and activity,” he said. He emphasized the importance of continued vigilance and proactive response to any changes in wildfire risk levels.
Christie Tucker, the Alberta Wildfire Information Unit Manager, provided an operational update, confirming the current status of the wildfires. “There are currently 30 wildfires burning in the forest protection area of Alberta. Three of those are being held, and the rest are under control,” Tucker reported. Since the beginning of the year, Alberta has responded to 358 wildfires, with 346 already extinguished.
Tucker highlighted the wet and cool conditions over the long weekend, which aided firefighting efforts, especially in the north. Over 45 millimeters of rain were recorded on the wildfire outside Fort McMurray. Despite the favorable weather, over 200 firefighters continue to work on the ground, supported by aircraft and heavy equipment to reinforce containment lines and extinguish hotspots.
She also mentioned the detection of 33 new wildfire starts between Friday and Monday, most of which were caused by human activity. Patrol staff had hundreds of interactions with the public over the weekend, emphasizing the importance of following fire restrictions and bans to reduce human-caused wildfires.
Stephen Lacroix addressed the evacuation procedures, particularly comparing the recent evacuation near Fort McMurray to the 2016 wildfires. He explained that the extensive post-incident assessment from 2016 led to improvements in evacuation protocols. “The local authority did an extremely good job in collaboration with Alberta Wildfire to monitor the fire, provide the community with notice to be ready to evacuate, and manage the evacuation process smoothly,” Lacroix said.
He highlighted the importance of clear communication and preparation, which allowed residents to know where to go and what to pack, making the process more deliberate and organized. Lacroix also thanked the hosting communities for their support during the evacuation.
In conclusion, the officials reiterated the importance of vigilance and responsible behavior to prevent human-caused wildfires. With 77% of wildfires confirmed as human-caused this year, there is a strong need for public cooperation in following fire safety guidelines. Minister Loewen emphasized, “Please exercise extreme caution this wildfire season and work to develop fire-smart habits that will help protect our province.”