May 5th marked the first anniversary of the County of Grande Prairie’s declaration of a local state of emergency due to the wildfires that ravaged the area in 2023.
The lightning-caused blaze was controlled by crews from across the province including members of the Calgary Fire Department, local crews, and the Canadian Armed Forces in around ten days. At least four homes were lost during that time, and more than 984 evacuees sought refuge at Bonnetts Energy Centre.
Since then, wildfire mitigation has been a top priority for both the County and the City of Grande Prairie, with both entities applying for hundreds of thousands of dollars in grant funding from the province to establish fire breaks and support crews and equipment costs.
Most recently, the 30-kilometre-long firebreak southeast of the city was completed in April after construction began last May and was funded entirely through a $5 million provincial grant.
Alberta Minister of Forestry and Parks Todd Loewen says the province is preparing for the worst and hoping for the best when it comes to this year’s wildfire season, and the province is in a much “better position” in 2024 versus last year thanks to investments in additional resources and technology to support wildfire fighting efforts. According to the minister, more than a dozen crews will be on rotation providing 24/7 coverage this summer.
The most recent report out of Alberta Wildfire says 19 wildfires have been reported in the Grande Prairie Forest Area since January 1st of this year; however, of the 19 fires, 15 have been extinguished, two were turned over to the responsible parties and two are listed as “under control.” As a result, the wildfire danger in the Grande Prairie Forest Area has been categorized as “moderate.”