If your snow-laden backyard or deck and frost encrusted trees are anything to go by, it would seem unbelievable that wildfire season has started, however, wildfire season has been in effect since March 1st and will last till Halloween. 

According to the Beiseker Fire Department’s Deputy Fire Chief, Amanda Davies, the Beiseker Fire Department has a truck specifically designated for brush fires along with their engine and tender (water) trucks. 

“This brush truck is equipped with a smaller water tank and pump in a pickup truck which is better suited to respond to areas off roads where wildfires are common,” Davies wrote.  

She underlined that because wildfires are dependent on extenuating factors such as weather, location and manpower, the Beiseker Fire Department focuses on harnessing the power of training to better equip firefighters on how to deal with wildfire.  

“We empower them to evaluate the situation and make the best decision for the situation to safely and effectively extinguish the fire,” Davies added. “We are fortunate to have several experienced wildland firefighters in the department that are very good at sharing their knowledge and experience.” 

According to the province, more than 60 per cent of 2021 wildfires were human-caused, resulting in 1,308 wildfires and 52,955 hectares being burned in the Forest Protection Area (FPA). 

Davies said that in the past several years the Beiseker Fire Department has responded to many wildfires and often these responses are in support of other agencies or departments owing to the limited wildland within the village of Beiseker itself. She also underscored that precisely because human activity is a major cause of wildfires, it is crucial to understand the importance of adhering to fire bans and being responsible for fires and smoking.  

“Wildfires can also be caused by less obvious activity such as ATVs and railroad track sparks,” she wrote. “The advice I would give is for our residents to check out the FireSMART program. It outlines many effective ways to help your property become less vulnerable to wildfires, especially simple actions such as clearing gutters and ensuring any potential fuels such as piles of dried leaves or other debris is cleared from your yard.” 

Other fire safety measures that should be followed all year long include having and practicing an evacuation plan, especially if one has children, as well as having a 72-hour kit.  

One of the most devastating wildfires in Alberta occurred in 2016 in Fort McMurray. According to Statistics Canada, that wildfire burned 5,890 km2 of land, roughly the size of Prince Edward Island. It had the highest insured losses, totalling $3.7 billion. Though the cause of the wildfire is still unclear, statistically, it is feasible it was indeed man-made. 

As of March 3rd, 2022, there are four wildfires in Alberta, all of which are Under Control (UC), meaning they are completely contained and will be extinguished.

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