Alberta fire stats for 2015

The 2015 fire statistics are in for Alberta.

Alberta wildfire stats 2015

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Author: Bill Gabbert

After working full time in wildland fire for 33 years, he continues to learn, and strives to be a Student of Fire.

3 thoughts on “Alberta fire stats for 2015”

  1. Fred, as a wff in Canada for the past 33 years I can honestly say our provinces have a totally different mandate and obligation compared to the US of A.

    There is no expectation for our ff to protect structures. Period.

    We are wild land, you want someone to protect your house, call the FD.

    We don’t fight vehicle fires either. Not trained nor outfitted.

    Our managers support us to the highest level when someone complains that we did not risk our lives to save a structure in the interface.

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  2. Also notice the obvious lack of fire shelter deployments and/or fatalities. ZERO!

    Taken from a July 3, 2015 Canadian CBC article titled: ” Why emergency fire shelters aren’t used in Canada. Canada takes a much different approach to fighting wildfires than the U.S. does,” the following is instructive:

    “In Canada, fire shelters are no longer used at all. Marc Mousseau, chair of the fire equipment working group for the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre, said they were never widely deployed, and B.C. became the last province to stop deploying them in 2005.”

    “Lucy Tower, manager of B.C.’s fire equipment depot, told CBCNews.ca Tuesday that the decision was made because the province’s firefighters are never put in a situation where they would need to deploy a fire shelter. Much of the terrain where wildfires occur in Canada is also densely forested.”

    Looks like we should take a few lessons from the Canadians and take less risks according to Lucy Tower: “In general, Canadian wildfire fighters are equipped with the view that firefighters should avoid putting themselves in harm’s way to begin with.” And while we’re at it, how about getting rid of our fire shelters as well. The WFF Rules are the answer to safer wildland firefighting, NOT new and improved fire shelters.

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