Alberta’s government is providing a $900,000 boost to the Alberta fire weather network to upgrade equipment, protect at-risk communities and improve wildfire response.
Central to these efforts is the province’s fire weather network, which plays a vital role in predicting fire conditions and detecting fires earlier.
Alberta’s fire weather network includes 150 strategically placed weather stations that collect information on environmental factors such as temperature, humidity, wind conditions and moisture levels.
This real-time data helps Alberta Wildfire stay one step ahead of potential threats, guiding response teams and ensuring resources are deployed to where they’re needed most.
New weather station locations will be determined in the near future, as Alberta Wildfire teams work to identify areas lacking weather monitoring coverage.
Improved monitoring is especially important during the spring thaw, when melting snow can lead to drier conditions and increase wildfire risk.
New sensors will track snowfall accumulation throughout the winter, providing Alberta Wildfire with valuable insights into how dry conditions might be as the season begins.
“Our government is continuing to make strategic investments to enhance our wildfire-fighting capabilities. By better predicting how fire risks evolve throughout the season, we’re not only helping Alberta Wildfire teams respond more effectively – we’re also helping communities reduce their exposure to wildfires,” said Todd Loewen, Minister of Forestry and Parks.
“This technology is vital to keeping our firefighters safe, and to helping protect lives and livelihoods across the province.”
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