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Nearly $7 million in provincial and federal spending will create six teams of urban wildfire crews, Alberta’s public safety minister announced Friday.
Speaking in Strathmore, Mike Ellis told a news conference that having six more teams means Alberta will have up to eight specialized crews that can respond to fires threatening communities.
“We’ve witnessed the immense destruction wildfires can cause at home and in other parts of the world,” Ellis said.
“That’s why we’re focused on building more skilled, specialized and ready to deploy teams that can work to ensure communities, businesses and critical infrastructure are protected in the event of a wildfire.”
He said the teams will be based in municipal fire departments and include firefighters with both structural and wildland fire training.
Teams are to be stationed in Hinton, Slave Lake, Strathmore, Kananaskis Village and Lac La Biche County. One will be under the purview of the Kee Tas Kee Now Tribal Council, he said.
Ellis said the locations were chosen strategically so Alberta is better prepared to respond when wildfires threaten developed communities.
The town of Slave Lake lost more than 500 homes and businesses, including its town hall, library and two churches, when a wildfire swept through in 2011.
“There’s always the unknown threat of when a fire may or may not occur,” Ellis said. “It’s about preparedness, and that’s precisely what we’re doing here.”
Strathmore fire Chief David Sturgeon said that as a result of the funding, his department will be hiring four new firefighters to work on the team.
He said the department has multiple firefighters trained to the standard needed and they have been deployed to battle wildfires in recent years.
“We’re ready to go,” Sturgeon told reporters.
A government news release said each of the six communities will receive a little more than $1 million over the next two to three years to cover costs. Ellis said he’s hopeful the funding will be renewed.
“The plan is to have (the teams be) permanent, of course,” Ellis said, adding he was optimistic the federal government would step up again when this funding runs out.
Strathmore Mayor Pat Fule said the new team is an appreciated addition as fires are sparking up earlier and earlier each year.
On Friday, Alberta had two wildfires considered out of control. Neither was threatening developed areas or municipalities.
Earlier this month, a wildfire led to an evacuation order for the village of Boyle. The order, affecting about 800 people, was lifted after two days and no homes or businesses were destroyed.
Another blaze in Sturgeon County, now considered to be under control, forced dozens more people to flee and destroyed three homes.
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