The province has announced plans to spend 115 million dollars over the next three years, including an additional 31 million alone this year, on efforts to prevent and fight wildfires in the province. Environment and Sustainable Resource Development minister Robin Campbell says the money will strengthen his department’s ability to both fight and reduce the risk of wildfires.
“Funding to strengthen our capacity to to fight wildfires means more firefighters, and supporting resources on the ground. Â It also allows us to increase training, building better systems to manage wildfire emergencies, and improve communications.”
Over one third of that money will be committed to FireSmart projects, such as tree thinning and removal work around communities. The money is part of the government’s commitment to address the 21 recommendations in the Flat Top Complex Wildfire review, which took place after the Slave Lake wildfire in 2011.