October 31 marked the end of the legislated wildfire season in Alberta.

In the wildfire season of 2022, human action was responsible for 56% of the fires, lightning was responsible for 38%, and 6% of the fires are still under investigation.

“Diligence this summer resulted in a more than 10 per cent decrease in human-caused wildfires and we recorded fewer wildfires than the previous year overall. Wildfire staff work tirelessly to keep our forests safe and it’s great to see that their efforts have been supported by the public’s responsible behaviour. We’re not out of the woods yet, though – warm, dry fall conditions in some parts of the province mean that it’s still important for folks to stay alert to risks. Preventing wildfire is the duty of all Albertans," stated Todd Loewen, Minister of Forestry, Parks and Tourism.

A total of 1,254 wildfires consumed 153,124 hectares of land in 2022. This contrasts with the 1,110 wildfires that burned more than 190,000 hectares on average over the previous five years (2017–2021).

Because of Alberta's controlled weather, Alberta was able to support Parks Canada, the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre, and the firefighting operations in British Columbia, the Northwest Territories, Yukon, Alaska, and Washington. Alberta achieved this by deploying 90 firemen, support personnel in the air, and planes to assist partner agencies.

Albertans should exercise caution when enjoying the state's stunning woodlands outside of the wildfire season. Even though fall is in the air, wildfires are still a possibility. The risk of wildfire persists until there is enough rain on the ground. Resources that are prepared to respond have been strategically placed across the province by Alberta Wildfire.

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