Credit: Alberta Wildfire Facebook
Alberta is preparing for the 2026 wildfire season by equipping trained crews and ensuring the necessary equipment is in place. The province has hired over 550 seasonal firefighters for this wildfire season and has access to hundreds more through contracts and mutual aid agreements if needed.
“Protecting our communities, forests, and critical infrastructure from the threats of wildfires is a top priority for Alberta’s government. We are taking action so that Albertans, along with our municipal partners and communities, can feel safer and more prepared during the 2026 wildfire season. Through partnerships, education, risk reduction, and the use of new technology, we are utilizing all available tools to create a more wildfire-resilient Alberta,” stated Todd Loewen, Minister of Forestry and Parks.
New this year, Alberta is introducing the Mutual Aid Incentive Pilot for the 2026 wildfire season. The program offers municipalities up to $125,000 to support wildfire response and encourages them to ask for provincial assistance sooner. With wildfires becoming more frequent and severe, the costs of responding to wildfires is significant for all levels of government, including Alberta’s municipalities. This new pilot program will lower financial barriers that may have delayed mutual aid requests in the past and help reduce the immediate cost concerns for municipalities.
“The Mutual Aid Incentive Pilot is the kind of program that makes a real difference at the municipal level. With up to $125,000 dedicated to wildfire response, we can act decisively the moment a fire threatens our community. Sturgeon County sits in a landscape that demands we move fast, and this program empowers us to do exactly that while strengthening the provincial-municipal partnership that protects Alberta,” explained Alanna Hnatiw, mayor of Sturgeon County.
The government will continue to use all available tools and technology to assess wildfire risk, predict where wildfires may start, and respond quickly to protect forests, infrastructure, communities and all Albertans.
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