In response to recent devastating wildfire seasons in Alberta, a new tool is helping communities in the province determine, reduce and better manage their risk as forecasts suggest these events will become more frequent.
In response to recent devastating wildfire seasons in Alberta, a new tool is helping communities in the province determine, reduce and better manage their risk as forecasts suggest these events will become more frequent.
The Intact Centre on Climate Adaptation at the University of Waterloo, in partnership with FireSmartTM Alberta, released a new report entitled, From Risk to Readiness: Enhancing Alberta’s Wildfire Preparedness Through the FireSmart™ Scorecard. The Scorecard helps communities assess and strengthen their wildfire readiness. Evaluating 10 critical areas, such as vegetation management, emergency planning, and training for emergency responders, this tool could be customized to help communities across the country save people, homes and infrastructure from wildfires.
In 2023, over a thousand wildfires in Alberta broke records with the size of the area they destroyed — including more than 100 homes — triggering mass evacuations and causing widespread concerns over air quality. Last year’s wildfire season was equally intense, with nearly 1,200 fires, including the Jasper Wildfire Complex, which displaced 25,000 people and destroyed a third of the town.
Read More: University of Waterloo
Photo Credit: RonaldPlett via Pixabay
