Alberta Wildfire is preparing for the wildfire season by hiring 200 additional firefighters, invoking a fire ban, implementing off-highway vehicle (OHV) restrictions, increasing fine violations and funding $20 million more in community FireSmart initiatives. The wildfire hazard is highest in Alberta in late April through May, when fuel like trees and grasses have extremely low moisture content after the snow has melted.

The fire ban will be in the Forest Protection Area, provincial parks, and protected areas. A recreational OHV ban on Crown land in the Forest Protection Area will also be in place. These bans are being made as a precautionary measure to manage risk due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The fire ban and OHV restriction are temporary measures, which will remain in place only as long as required to combat the wildfire risk. Measures may later be adjusted to consider the needs of specific regions. At this time all fire permits will be suspended in this area, and landowners are responsible for ensuring any holdover fires are extinguished. Indigenous people may use OHVs on public land for traditional purposes and the use of OHVs on private lands, for industrial use (for example forestry, agriculture, and energy) and by emergency responders is also permitted.

Fines are being doubled from $300 to $600 for non-compliance with a fire ban and from $600 to $1,200 for non-compliance with an OHV restriction. With 71 per cent of last year’s wildfires started by people, these fine increases reflect the seriousness of the preventative measure Albertans must take to prevent wildfires. Last year, more than $600 million was spent fighting wildfires in Alberta.