Alberta is geared up and ready for wildfire season

Alberta is set for the 2026 wildfire season with trained crews and prepared equipment in place.

The province has hired more than 550 seasonal firefighters for this wildfire season and has access to hundreds more through contracts and mutual aid agreements should they be needed.

"Protecting our communities, forests and critical infrastructure from the threats of wildfire is a top priority for Alberta's government. We're taking action so Albertans, our municipal partners and our communities can feel safer and more prepared during the 2026 wildfire season. Through partnerships, education, risk reduction and the use of new technology, we're using all available tools to create a more wildfire-resilient Alberta."

Crews are prepared to respond to wildfires anywhere in the province. They are trained for both quick response and long-term firefighting, and new partnerships will bolster wildfire mitigation and response to keep Albertans safe.

Alberta's government continues to invest in improved air attack capabilities to better support crews on the ground. This includes helicopters with night-vision capability for around-the-clock aerial support, and hoist-equipped helicopters that can safely move firefighters into and out of difficult-to-reach terrain.

"Alberta's government has been meticulous in their work in wildfire response. They understood early on what the CL-215-T could do, and they built their aerial suppression program around it. When a fire breaks out here, those aircraft are in the air fast, scooping from the nearest lake and dropping before the fire has a chance to establish itself. That is the advantage. It is not just the aircraft, it is the fact that Alberta has them, they are maintained, the crews know them, and they are ready. That kind of readiness is what keeps a small fire from becoming a disaster."

In March, Alberta announced a $400-million contract with De Havilland Canada for five new, made-in-Alberta waterbombers. Together these tools will improve safety, effectiveness and coordination between air and ground crews.

Alberta also has a network of airbases across the province that allow aircraft to be deployed where they are needed most. Partnerships with communities and airstrips are essential to getting these resources in the air where and when they needed to be.

"When a wildfire threatens a community, Albertans count on their local firefighters to be ready. That's why we're investing in the training they need to respond safely and effectively, because strong local fire services are the backbone of our wildfire defence, and we're making sure they have the tools and skills to protect the people they serve"

New this year, Alberta is introducing the Mutual Aid Incentive Pilot for the 2026 wildfire season. The program offers municipalities up to $125,000 to support wildfire response and encourages them to ask for provincial assistance sooner. With wildfires becoming more frequent and severe, the costs of responding to wildfires is significant for all levels of government, including Alberta's municipalities. This new pilot program will lower financial barriers that may have delayed mutual aid requests in the past and help reduce the immediate cost concerns for municipalities.

"The Mutual Aid Incentive Pilot is the kind of program that makes a real difference at the municipal level. With up to $125,000 dedicated to wildfire response, we can act decisively the moment a fire threatens our community. Sturgeon County sits in a landscape that demands we move fast, and this program empowers us to do exactly that while strengthening the provincial-municipal partnership that protects Alberta"

Alberta's government will continue to rely on the expanded Wildland Urban Interface teams made up of specially trained municipal firefighters, to provide an added line of defence for communities and critical infrastructure threatened by wildfires. This work builds on other municipal-level wildfire mitigation and resilience measures, such as community fireguards, FireSmart programs, and the Community Hazardous Fuels Reduction Program.

"As MLA for West Yellowhead, my constituents know well the risks each wildfire season brings. Our government has taken lessons from previous events to strengthen mitigation, preparedness and response. As another season begin, we are ready and focused on supporting at-risk communities across the province"

Our government will continue to use all available tools and technology to assess wildfire risk, predict where wildfires may start and respond quickly to protect forests, infrastructure, communities and all Albertans.

Quick facts

• Budget 2026 provides $169 million to support effective wildfire management.
• Alberta invested almost $7 million in 2025 to create six new Wildland Urban Interface Teams.
• This year, about 1,200 Albertans applied for a seasonal firefighting position compared to nearly 800 in the 2025 season.

Related information

• Emergency exercise boosts Alberta readiness (March 24, 2026)
• Start of wildfire season (March 6, 2026)
• Building a wildfire-resilient Alberta (March 5, 2026)