Title
AAMDC Resolution - Wildland Fire Fighting Costs
Proposed Motion
That a resolution be submitted to the July 18, 2016 Pembina Zone meeting advocating for the Provincial Government to not charge municipalities outside of the Forest Protection Area for the cost of provincial wildland fire fighting expertise or resources.
Body
Administration Recommendation
Administration is in support of the attached resolution being forwarded to the Pembina Zone meeting on July 18, 2016.
Purpose
Municipalities outside of the Forest Protection Area are at significant risk of wildland fires. In addition to this significant risk, these municipalities do not have the same level of training or the required resources to effectively combat these types of fires. The proposed resolution asks the Provincial government to recognize this risk and to cover the cost of wildland fires for municipalities outside of the Forest Protection Area for the use of provincial resources and expertise in fighting wildland fires.
Summary
In April 2016, Parkland County Fire Services fought a large wildfire in the Duffield area. This wildfire caused significant damage and cost close to 2 million dollars to extinguish. Increasing frequency and duration of wildfires outside the Forest Protection Area is negatively impacting municipal budgets and fire services. These fires are beyond the scope of resources, training and financial capacity for many of Alberta’s rural fire services. This wildfire quickly out grew Parkland County's ability to control and combat. The typical grass or brush fires have been managed by most fire services over the years but increasingly these fires have become major events lasting weeks. Many of these events have required extensive local resources and mutual aid assistance to effectively control and contain the fire risk. This extended wildfire occurrence is triggered from multiple factors such as drought, fuel conditions in developed areas, rapid fire growth and limited firefig...
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