Alberta preparing for another early wildfire season after record 2023 and mild winter

Record-breaking wildfires in Alberta last year, coupled with an unusually dry and mild winter, are prompting early efforts by Alberta Wildfire to prepare for what could be another early and devastating wildfire season. Melissa Story, community relations coordinator for Alberta Wildfire, commented, “With less snow, lower precipitation and higher temperatures than we normally see at this time of year, we're heading into the fire season with some concerns.”

Although increased snowfall during the winter months can help, the true indicator of the severity of the 2024 wildfire season, Story suggests, will be the rainfall received during the volatile spring season. She explained, “With dry, dead vegetation on the ground, fires can ignite quickly and spread rapidly. The springtime rain aids in plant growth which can help when fighting wildfires.”

Last year was the worst fire season Alberta has ever witnessed in terms of the amount of land scorched. While the number of fires was slightly less than the five-year average of 1,107 incidents (1,088 in 2023), they were far larger in size. According to Story, “The 2023 wildfire season set the record for most hectares burned, totaling over 2.2 million. The previous record set in 1981 saw 1.3 million hectares burned”.

35% of these fires were caused by lightning and although most fires were due to human activities, these fires were predominantly the result of residential activity, including burning debris and grass without a permit or not abiding by permit conditions. 176 fires fell into this category.

Story highlights the seriousness of wildfires, stating “Large wildfires over 200,000 hectares can burn for months, even years. Once started, it becomes crucial to check them regularly until they can be put out completely.”

As for the coming year, Story states, “We’re preparing for an early fire season in 2024 as Environment Canada is predicting a mild February.” Alberta Wildfire is already recruiting and training crews for the upcoming fire season, preparing for a possible early start this year.

Alberta’s wildfire season started early in 2023 and this year, there’s been an expedited process to get crews ready earlier than the traditional April start. Alberta's forest protection area, comprised of 10 zones, is our primary focus for wildfire protection efforts.

Despite it being winter, residents are being urged to practice safe burning due to the current conditions, emphasizing the importance of waiting until a minimum of 15 centimeters of snow is on the ground.