Is Alberta prepared for wildfire season? Province says yes, while experts say otherwise
Posted April 26, 2022 8:43 pm.
Last Updated April 26, 2022 9:48 pm.
The union representing seasonal wildfire workers is raising concerns Alberta isn’t staffed and ready for the wildfire season already underway. However, the province maintains they are ready even if they are still in the process of hiring some seasonal positions.
The vice-president of the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees (AUPE) says a number of their members have raised concerns about a delay in hiring leading to some skilled workers leaving the province.
“Our fear,” says Mike Dempsey, “is that we will not be prepared.”
While March is the official start of wildfire season in Alberta, the month of May is considered to historically be the worst.
“We should already be up to full speed and at full strength, but the government ordered that the wildfire-fighting season budget cut by about 8 to 12 per cent,” Dempsey says concern over the budget meant the government was late in hiring seasonal firefighters.
“A lot of people that need to be hired, experienced people, didn’t get their offer letters on time” saying this delay caused experienced firefighters to begin looking for work in other provinces and Alberta is now 60 jobs short.
A spokesperson for the forestry ministry says, “Alberta Wildfire is well-staffed to take on the demands of the wildfire season.”
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Press secretary Mackenzie Blyth admits in the statement they are “still actively recruiting to hire all necessary seasonal staff, aiming for the same number of firefighters employed in 2021.”
Blyth added that “turnover can be expected for any seasonal position.”
Dempsey fears the loss of experienced workers and delays in the training of new hires means Alberta isn’t prepared to handle a massive wildfire like the 2016 blaze that forced the evacuation of Fort McMurray, commonly called ‘The Beast’.
The government maintains, in the event of a big fire “Alberta Wildfire can request additional resources and specialist assistance from partner agencies across Canada and internationally when required.”
But Dempsey says, “it’s always cheaper to have the resources upfront,” noting the anniversary of the start of the Fort McMurray wildfire is this Sunday.
Similar concerns over budget cuts were made in 2016 under the then NDP government.
Since January Alberta has had over 100 wildfires, and as of Tuesday afternoon, 13 are still considered active.
Public information officer Erin Davidson says while spring does bring an elevated risk of wildfires with snowmelt revealing dry grass, most of the early season fires are human caused.
“We know over 60 per cent of our wildfires last year were caused by humans,” says Davidson, “and although that number is declining over the past five years, it’s still wildfires that could and should be prevented.”
Alberta Wildfire is hopeful those looking to enjoy our province’s forest protection area continue to check for fire bans, ensure campfires are completely out and be cautious with ATVs.
