Wildfires prompt Calgarians to prepare for emergencies and smoke

While there are no wildfires threatening the Calgary area, they do have some people thinking ahead, as their smoke is often an issue.

While wildfires threaten homes in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, people in other areas are getting prepared.

“Fire season always brings it back to top of mind. We often have people we know being affected by these now,” said Kristen Bullock, co-owner of emergency supplies provider Briden Solutions.

At her shop near Calgary, more people are getting supplies to keep healthy, comfortable and connected for at least three days.

But 72-hour emergency preparedness kits are only one part.

“You need a well-rounded plan of information, strategy and supplies to help make sure that your family is ready,” she said.

Briden Solutions also offers free emergency preparedness classes online to help make difficult situations a bit less stressful.

“We’ve now hit this point; we’re having a fire season every year, and a lot of people are worried but don’t know what to do. These plans really just step in and take away some of the trauma and some of the stress that happens,” said Bullock.

Even in areas far from flames, wildfires are taking a toll, with health impacts forcing many Calgarians indoors every year.

“You can really see that the last eight years or so have been quite a bit smokier than what we’ve seen on record,” said Christy Climenhaga, a scientist with Environment and Climate Change Canada.

All that smoke is weighing on minds and sparking a search for solutions.

“I think the concern is there that people want to know some of the options on the market to filter out some of the particulates of smoke,” said Bob Weir, business development manager at Crystal Waters Home Comfort.

The growing demand has this company putting more resources into air quality.

“Shift(ing) a big segment of our company to indoor air quality, based on the number of calls we’re getting,” he said.

Calgary also answered the call for help from Alberta Wildfire.

So far, it’s deployed two incident management members of Canada Task Force 2.

The city says that the Calgary Fire Department has not received any deployment requests so far but has confirmed with the province the availability of several fire apparatus as well as crews to assist with wildfire efforts as needed.

On Tuesday, the province provided CTV News with a statement:

“Supports and accommodations for evacuees are being provided in their neighbouring communities. There are currently no evacuations in southern Alberta and assistance with hosting evacuees has not been required of communities in the southern region,” the province said.

The province noted, “A variety of southern municipalities have deployed firefighters and equipment to wildfires in other parts of the province.”

Those municipalities include:

• Cypress County
• County of 40 Mile
• Mountain View County
• Town of High Level
• Town of Strathmore
• Town of Diamond Valley
• Town of Taber
• Municipal District of Willow Creek
• Village of Beiseker
• Village of Stirling
• Vulcan County

“Being forced to evacuate is disruptive and can cause significant emotional and financial stress for Albertans. To help offset these expenses, Alberta’s government provides one-time emergency financial assistance to residents who have had to leave their communities for seven or more days due to mandatory evacuation orders,” the province said.

“Eligible adults receive $1,250, and an additional $500 for each dependent child under the age of 18. These funds help evacuees pay for accommodations, food and other necessities.

“Eligible evacuees can apply for the one-time evacuation support payment at evacuationpayment.alberta.ca. Albertans in need of emergency financial assistance as they leave their community can contact the Income Support Emergency Contact Centre at 1-866-644-5135."