The province is putting extra supports in place to get ahead of wildfire season during the COVID-19 outbreak.

With an additional $5 million investment, Alberta Wildfire will be hiring 200 additional firefighters, off highway vehicle restrictions will increase, the price of violation fines will increase, and $20 million dollars will go towards FireSmart initiatives in communities to help prepare for wildfire season during the pandemic.

A fire ban is also being instituted by Alberta Parks for all provincial parks and protected areas.

The provincial government has stated that these measures will ensure the province can effectively focus resources where they are needed most in the event of multiple emergencies happening at the same time.

The wildfire hazard is typically highest in Alberta in late April through May when fuel-like trees and grasses have extremely low moisture content after the snow has melted.

In 2019, over one million acres burned with 71 per cent of wildfires caused by humans and were considered to be entirely preventable.

 

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