“The official start of wildfire season is a reminder for all of us to be ready and to stay aware. As wildfires continue to grow in intensity, Alberta’s government is taking proactive steps to prepare for the season ahead.
“Preventing wildfires before they start is an important first step. About 60 per cent of wildfires in Alberta are caused by human activity, with the rest started by lightning. While we have made progress in reducing human-caused wildfire, even small changes in behaviour can make a big difference. Checking conditions, following fire restrictions and ensuring winter burns are fully extinguished help protect our communities, landscapes and firefighters.
“When wildfires start, we are ready to respond; even with winter conditions still affecting Alberta, crews have responded to 27 new wildfires this year. Budget 2026 maintains strong, stable funding for wildfire response, ensuring crews, equipment, aircraft and technology are ready when and where they are needed.
“Alberta is a leader in using aircraft to fight wildfires and those tools continue to make a real difference on the ground. Helicopters play an important role, and we’re building on 2025’s success by expanding our hoist-equipped helicopter program with the addition of two helicopters and enhancing training at the Hinton Training Centre to support safe deployment in hard-to-access areas. We’re also expanding our night flying capability with three additional night-vision helicopters, bringing our total to seven, allowing crews to fight fires in cooler, more stable conditions and operate around the clock.
“Mitigating the risks of catastrophic wildfires remains a major focus as we work closely with communities to help them take proactive steps to reduce wildfire risk before fires start. Through Budget 2026, we’re continuing to invest in FireSmart initiatives and community fireguard projects to reduce hazardous fuels near communities and strengthen long-term resilience.
“Wildfire safety is a shared responsibility. Follow fire bans and restrictions, obtain permits where required and fully extinguish campfires by soaking, stirring and soaking again. By working together, we can reduce risk and protect what matters most this wildfire season.”