Alberta wildfire season begins with ‘significant’ reduction in fires from last year

As wildfire season gets underway, 10 fires are already burning in Alberta.

Alberta’s wildfire season begins on Saturday as spring nears.

The province is entering the 2025 wildfire season with 10 active fires. There were almost 60 active wildfires this time last year, the government said in a release.

Prevention, mitigation and readiness to respond are the three pillars of Alberta’s wildfire response this year.

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There are fireguard projects underway in the Bow Valley near Canmore, Cypress Hills Provincial Park, Hinton, Whitecourt and Slave Lake.

As part of this year’s budget, the government also invested $160 million in funding for personnel, equipment, training and contracts for aircraft.

“It is important to remember we all have a shared responsibility in preventing wildfires,” Minister of Forestry and Parks Todd Loewen said.

“I encourage everyone to follow fire bans and restrictions, remember you must have a permit for any burning in the Forest Protection Area.

“By working together, we will be ready to face whatever the 2025 wildfire season brings.”

Last summer was a major wildfire season in Alberta after a third of Jasper was destroyed by fire.