Edmonton conducts first prescribed burn

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Edmonton performed its first ever prescription burn on city limits on Wednesday to mitigate the risk of wildfires.

According to the city, Edmonton Fire Rescue Services (EFRS) has been steadily increasing the number of outdoor fires in the valleys and gullies. The city said combustion is part of its wildfire prevention efforts – aiming to reduce the fuel from wildfires, prevent higher-intensity fires, and reintroduce important nutrients into the ecosystem.

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The crew closed Northeast Valley Park to the public on Wednesday to prevent combustion, which prevented it from happening.

The city said a prescribed burning activity was conducted in the Mashan area last fall to prepare for prescribed burns.

“Public safety remains a priority for the city and the importance of managing ecosystem health,” the city said in a statement. “To properly manage urban forests, the city balances by tying debris as “naturalized”, where fire risk is low and dangerous vegetation is managed when private property is at risk.”

More valley fires

So far this year, EFRS has responded to 36 fires in the valley and canyon, including all external vegetation, wilderness, brush and grass fires.

In 2024, EFRS responded to a total of 400 fires, the highest number of records, an increase from 318 recorded in 2023 and 228 recorded in 2022.

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The city said the numbers are approximate and may not include all events EFRS has been dispatched, pointing to the caller’s description of the event location.

Alberta Wildfire Management

After a record wildfire season in 2023 and a challenging wildfire season in 2024, Alberta wildfires were displaced from their homes due to good weather.

Before the federal election, Ottawa was criticized by the provincial government for its lack of a devastating 2024 wildfire season.

On March 20, Liberal leader Mark Carney pledged $187 million to help Jasper rebuild after the 2024 wildfires. The funding will go to Canada Park Canada over the next two years to rebuild roads, campgrounds, trails, and permanent and temporary housing for employees and residents.

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When asked about the province’s planned press conference related to drought and flood funding at a press conference on Thursday, Environment and Conservation Areas Minister Rebecca Schulz said what measures the province plans to do when wildfires fall largely under the scope of forestry and parks.

But, Schultz said several ministers, including herself, were “very close to the community” to ensure the province is helping municipalities prevent wildfires.

ctran@postmedia.com

X: @kccindytran