After a record year for wildfires here in the region and across province, followed by what has been an unseasonably mild and dry winter thus far, Alberta Wildfire is already preparing for what could be another year of fires beginning earlier than usual.
While more snow this winter will be helpful, experts say a telltale sign for the 2024 wildfire season will be the amount of rain that falls in the spring – the most volatile time for a wildfire.
The hope for rain comes after the province had the worst fire season on record, in terms of area burnt, with over 2.2 million hectares.
Even now in the winter, the province is asking people in the forest protection areas to be careful about winter burning, something that’s not typically a concern.
Alberta wildfire officials say that they’ll be entering this wildfire season, which begins March 1, with an elevated wildfire risk, “especially in the northern parts of the province,” adding that 63 fires are continuing to burn from last year.
According to reports, they will have crews in place by April 15, earlier than usual to deal with whatever the season holds.
Conditions last spring contributed to Alberta’s worst wildfire season since 1981.
– Kyle Moore, Trending 55 Newsroom
