Nearly $7 million in joint funding from Alberta’s provincial and federal governments will be used to create six dedicated urban wildfire teams across the province, according to a report from Global News.
Public Safety Minister Mike Ellis announced the funding in Strathmore on May 24, explaining that the move will expand Alberta’s capacity to respond to wildfires threatening populated areas.
The new teams will be integrated into municipal fire departments and staffed with personnel trained in both structural and wildland firefighting.
The six teams will be located in Hinton, Slave Lake, Strathmore, Kananaskis Village, Lac La Biche County, and one under the Kee Tas Kee Now Tribal Council.
Ellis said the selection of these locations was based on strategic planning to enable quicker responses in the event of wildfires affecting developed areas.
He added that the province now expects to operate eight specialized wildfire response teams once the new crews are fully established.
According to the Alberta government, each of the six communities will receive just over $1 million in funding spread across the next two to three years.
Ellis said he hopes the funding will be extended when the current allocation ends: “The plan is to have (the teams be) permanent, of course.”
He also expressed confidence that the federal government would continue its support in future budget cycles.
Strathmore fire Chief David Sturgeon said his department will use the funding to hire four new firefighters specifically for the urban wildfire team.
Sturgeon said: “We’re ready to go.”
He added that several firefighters in his department are already trained to the required level and have experience in recent wildfire deployments.
Strathmore Mayor Pat Fule welcomed the additional resources, saying the earlier start of wildfire season has made new response capabilities especially relevant.
Alberta has allocated nearly $7 million in federal and provincial funding to form six urban wildfire teams.
The announcement was made by Public Safety Minister Mike Ellis in Strathmore on May 24.
Teams will be placed in Hinton, Slave Lake, Strathmore, Kananaskis Village, Lac La Biche County and the Kee Tas Kee Now Tribal Council.
Each location will receive just over $1 million spread over two to three years.
The teams will operate within municipal fire departments and be staffed by firefighters trained in both structural and wildland operations.
The province aims to increase its total number of specialized wildfire teams to eight.
Ellis said he hopes the funding will be renewed once the current phase concludes.
The community of Slave Lake previously experienced major fire damage in 2011.
Strathmore will hire four new firefighters to support the program.
Fire Chief David Sturgeon said the department is already prepared to deploy trained staff.
Mayor Pat Fule said the timing aligns with earlier wildfire activity seen in recent years.
Two wildfires in Alberta were classified as out of control as of the date of the announcement.
A wildfire earlier in May triggered the evacuation of Boyle, Alberta.
Another fire in Sturgeon County destroyed three homes and forced more evacuations.
The Alberta government said the selected team locations were chosen strategically.
