Edmonton conducts its first-ever prescribed burn to mitigate wildfire risk
Edmonton conducted its first-ever prescribed burn within city limits on Wednesday to mitigate wildfire risk.
According to the city, the number of outdoor fires that the Edmonton Fire Rescue Services (EFRS) has been responding to in the river valley and ravines has been steadily increasing. The city says the burn is part of its wildfire prevention efforts — meant to reduce fuel for wildfires, prevent higher-intensity fires, and reintroduce vital nutrients to the ecosystem.
Crews closed off the Northeast River Valley Park to the public on Wednesday for the preventative burn, which took place mid-morning.
The city said a prescribed burning exercise took place last fall in the Horse Hills area in preparation for the prescribed burn.
'Public safety remains a priority for the city, along with the importance of managing the health of ecosystems,' the city said in a statement. 'To properly manage the urban forest, the city strikes a balance by leaving debris to be 'naturalized' where fire risk is low and managing hazardous vegetation when private property is at risk.'
So far this year, EFRS has responded to 36 fires in the river valley and ravines, which include all outside, vegetation, wildland, brush, and grass fires.
In 2024, EFRS responded to a total of 400 fires, the highest recorded number, an increase from the 318 recorded in 2023 and the 228 recorded in 2022.
The city said the numbers were approximate and may not include all events EFRS has been dispatched to, pointing to the varying event location descriptions by callers.
Following a record-breaking wildfire season in 2023 and a challenging 2024 that saw thousands of Jasperites displaced from their homes, Alberta Wildfire told reporters in February that 2025 will be better due to favourable weather conditions.
Ahead of the federal election, Ottawa has garnered criticism from the provincial government for its lack of aid with the devastating 2024 wildfire season.
On March 20, Liberal Leader Mark Carney committed $187 million to help Jasper rebuild after the 2024 wildfires. The funding will go to Parks Canada over the next two years to reconstruct roads, campgrounds, trails, and both permanent and interim housing for staff and residents.
When asked about what the province plans to do to add more wildfire protection in municipalities at a press conference on Thursday related to drought and flood funding, Environment and Protected Areas Minister Rebecca Schulz said wildfires largely fell under the purview of forestry and parks.
However, Schulz said several ministers, including herself, work 'very closely' with communities to ensure the province is helping municipalities protect against wildfires.
ctran@postmedia.com
X: @kccindytran
Controlled burn closes Edmonton's Northeast River Valley Park Wednesday to prevent wildfire
Alberta heads into wildfire season in much better shape than 2024 with more dollars
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