The County of Grande Prairie has published its 2023 Annual Report, highlighting key moments from the 2023 fiscal year.
Within the report, the county reflected on the devastating Dunes West wildfire that saw the evacuation of more than 1,900 residents and 440 homes.
The county credits the “united response” from GPREP and the surrounding communities that delivered support for nearly 1,000 evacuees during the blaze. GPREP also offered damage assessments of hundreds of homes so residents could return safely.
The county’s Wildfire Mitigation Strategy was put to the test during the fire, and officials suggest the collaboration of fire services from each of the GPREP municipalities was key in bringing the wildfire under control. According to the county, a collaboration of this magnitude was only possible through common command systems, training, and familiarity to form a unified response.
“It’s also why our fire team members have been able to assist at every major fire in Northwestern Alberta since 2011,” the county says.
Looking ahead, the county describes the Dunes West Wildfire as a “pivotal event” that is refining the county’s emergency response planning for the future.
In the future, the county says FireSmart planning and vegetation management, enhancing focus on FireSmart activities, upgrading equipment, enhancing air support, evolving GPREP, and developing training initiatives for volunteers remains a top priority for the county.
Officials say the lessons learned, and strategies implemented during the 2023 fire season will continue to fortify the community against wildfires in the future.
