With Alberta's wildfire season officially underway as of March 1, St. Albert Fire Services is ramping up preparations ahead of what could be a dry and windy summer.
The season runs until Oct. 31, and while the current fire danger in the region is low, officials say now is the time to get ready.
“We up our training in our forested areas for access and ensuring things like water equipment is ready to go,” said Fire Prevention Officer Ryan Harley. “We’re ready to go.”
St. Albert uses a year-round forecasting tool known as Fire Weather Indexing to monitor wildfire risks. It combines a 13-day forecast of temperature, humidity, and wind to help determine the fire hazard level.
“It’s a similar process to what’s done on a provincial and federal level, but those are only for forest protection areas,” Harley said. “Municipalities are on their own.”
The federal government is predicting above-average dryness for the St. Albert region from May through September. Harley said that while the dryness hasn’t significantly increased in recent years, conditions remain drier than they once were.
“We’re not receiving the same amount of precipitation we’ve had in the past,” he said. “We know rain is coming, it just seems to be getting pushed further back.”
Currently, dry conditions are mostly affecting surface elements such as grass, leaves and twigs. Subsurface moisture levels remain relatively stable.
“St. Albert is very fortunate,” Harley added. “We do have forested areas, but they’re managed quite well by city staff, and we have dense poplar trees, which are more fire resistant.”
As part of its preparedness efforts, St. Albert Fire Services is increasing public education through social media and ensuring its wildfire equipment — including bush trucks designed for forested terrain — is ready.
St. Albert Environment Manager Meghan Myers also reminded residents to monitor the city’s air quality health index during wildfire season, particularly if smoke drifts into the area.
Harley urged residents to follow basic fire safety practices, including proper disposal of cigarette butts and using only approved backyard fire pits.
“If you’re using a fire pit, it has to have a valid permit from us,” he said.
More information about natural areas and fire safety is available on the City of St. Albert’s website.
