The first hints of spring in Alberta are laced with a familiar anxiety. Despite lingering snow, wildfire season has begun, and with it, the unsettling question of which community will face the devastating power of flames next.
Canmore and Hinton, nestled in the Rocky Mountains, aren’t waiting for fate to decide. The recent destruction in Jasper, where a third of the town’s structures were lost and 25,000 residents forced to flee under the cover of darkness, serves as a stark and chilling reminder.
“It could happen to you,” says Canmore’s Mayor Sean Krausert, acknowledging the vulnerability of a tourist town surrounded by vast forests. The memory of Jasper’s ordeal ignited a sense of urgency, fueling a comprehensive effort to protect their own community.
Canmore is constructing a network of fireguards – strategically cleared strips of land designed to starve a wildfire of fuel. The first phase focused on the sun-baked, driest southern slopes, while a second is actively underway, leaving behind towering piles of debris awaiting winter burns.
The most ambitious project will carve a 150-metre wide, 15-kilometre long swath down the valley, a monumental undertaking born of necessity. A low-level anxiety now accompanies each wildfire season for those who call this valley home, a constant awareness of the surrounding forests and the potential for disaster.
Protection isn’t limited to the perimeter. Canmore’s FireSmart program is actively engaging thirteen neighbourhoods, educating homeowners on preventative measures. Simple steps, like clearing gutters of pine needles and removing debris from roofs, can make a critical difference.
“Ember showers” – burning debris carried kilometers ahead of the main fire – are a significant threat, igniting woodpiles, conifer trees, and even seemingly harmless mulch. These seemingly small ignition points can quickly escalate into larger, uncontrollable blazes.
An hour east of Jasper, Hinton is mirroring these efforts, constructing a five-kilometre firebreak around the town. The fires in Jasper and nearby Edson in 2023 served as a wake-up call, reinforcing the feeling that Hinton was the “one in the middle” yet to be tested.
The creation of these fireguards isn’t without its challenges. Removing trees, especially those cherished by landowners, evokes resistance. The prospect of government crews felling beloved groves understandably raises concerns and questions.
Experts attribute the increasing wildfire risk to a changing climate – hotter summers, prolonged droughts, and milder winters. These conditions create a landscape primed for ignition and rapid fire spread, demanding proactive intervention.
“Between Calgary and Vancouver, those are the areas where I do think there are some concrete interventions that can be made,” notes wildfire expert Jed Kaplan of the University of Calgary. The hope is that these preventative measures will be completed before a major fire erupts.
Already this year, crews have responded to 27 new wildfires across Alberta. Officials emphasize the crucial role of public awareness, as an estimated 60% of wildfires are sparked by human activity. Even small changes in behavior can significantly reduce the risk.
The work is a race against time, a determined effort to safeguard communities against a growing threat. It’s a testament to the understanding that in the face of nature’s power, preparedness is not just an option, but a necessity.
