As spring nears, Albertans are reminded that wildfire season is beginning. The wildfire season runs from March 1 to Oct. 31 in Alberta.
“As folks look forward to enjoying Alberta’s wonderful outdoor spaces over the months ahead, we’re focussed on keeping communities safe. Alberta Wildfire has leading-edge firefighting resources positioned across the province, ready to respond to new wildfires as they arise, and continues to test and implement emerging tools and innovation designed to increase our wildfire management capabilities. It’s important that everyone plays an active role preventing wildfires from starting.”
Human-caused wildfires
Nearly all spring wildfires in Alberta are human-caused, which means that they are 100 per cent preventable.
The spring wildfire hazard is highest after seasonal melting has left fuels like trees and grasses extremely dry and flammable. Under these conditions, wildfire can ignite easily and spread quickly.
While it is too early to predict what the 2023 wildfire season will look like, spring rainfall will have a significant impact on what can be expected. At any time of year, Alberta Wildfire’s online dashboard is the trusted source for real-time wildfire information.
During the high-hazard time in spring, and throughout the wildfire season, it is critical that people take care to fully extinguish campfires, frequently check off-highway vehicles (OHVs) for smouldering debris and conduct agriculture burning projects safely.
Fire permits are free and are required during wildfire season for activities like residential, industrial or agricultural debris burning within the Forest Protection Area (FPA). Those living or operating a business within the FPA can obtain their fire permit online at firepermits.alberta.ca or by calling their local forest area office. Those outside the FPA can contact their local municipality to ask about fire permit requirements.
Quick facts
- To report a wildfire, call 310-FIRE (310-3473) toll-free, from anywhere in Alberta.
- Up-to-date information on fire advisories, restrictions, bans and OHV restrictions is available at albertafirebans.ca or by calling 1-866-FYI-FIRE (1-866-394-3473).
- During the 2022 wildfire season, Alberta recorded 1,246 wildfires that burned 130,858 hectares.
- 61 per cent of wildfires were human-caused in 2022.