Are we prepared for a Forest Fire?

As wildfires become an increasing concern for communities across Alberta, residents of the Crowsnest Pass may want to take proactive steps to prepare for potential threats. Jesse Fox, the municipality’s Manager of Protective Services and Fire Chief, recently shared insights into the comprehensive wildfire preparedness plans in place for the Municipality of Crowsnest Pass.

At the heart of Crowsnest Pass’ wildfire preparedness is the Emergency Response Plan (ERP), which has been carefully developed to address emergencies common to the area.

“The Municipality has developed an Emergency Response Plan (ERP) which contains provisions on procedures and protocols for emergencies we would typically expect to see in our area,” said Fox, “This is reviewed periodically and then tested through scheduled mock emergencies to ensure our Municipal Emergency Coordination team is ready to react quickly and professionally.”

This meticulous planning ensures that the community is equipped to handle various emergency scenarios, including wildfires. Local firefighters play a crucial role in wildfire mitigation and potential evacuations. They actively work with the public to promote FireSmart principles.

“Fire services work with the public to encourage implementing FireSmart principles for their properties and to have a mindset to fire prevention—such as not discarding cigarette butts and improper burning,” Fox explained, underscoring the importance of public awareness and participation.

When a wildfire approaches the community, coordination with Alberta Forestry becomes vital.

“If a wildfire is headed towards the community, often Alberta Forestry will be in continual contact and be providing progress updates such as fire direction, speed, estimation of fire path, etc.,” said Fox, “Our Emergency Coordination Centre may be activated, and preparations will commence based on the information received. This may include things such as public communications, sprinkler line deployment, and request for mutual aid.”

Fox advises residents to have a plan they hope they never have to use.

“People need to have a plan that they hope they never have to use,” he said, “This would include having a 72-hour emergency kit, a plan for pets and livestock, medicine and medical supplies, and an emergency action plan. It will ensure that you and your family members know what to do and who to call.”

Crowsnest Pass has implemented several mitigation measures to prevent wildfire devastation.

“Working through provincial grant funding, there have been multiple vegetation management projects that concentrated on cleaning brush and debris on Municipal lands,” Fox noted, “The Municipality has also worked very closely with FireSmart Alberta to create a Wildfire Mitigation strategy and a Structural Protection Plan. We have identified hazard types throughout the area and further created sprinkler placement and deploy plans.”

In the event of an evacuation, the Emergency Communications Centre is typically responsible for providing instructions and oversight.

“It is typical for the Emergency Communications Centre to provide instruction and oversight for evacuation of citizens; however, there may be smaller immediate evacuations that occur should there be immediate urgency,” Fox explained, “In this case, it is typically done by responders, including fire personnel and police services.”

One of the most significant challenges during evacuations is ensuring compliance.

“Some common mistakes are not evacuating when instructed or attempting to return,” Fox warned.

He emphasized the importance of following evacuation orders to ensure personal safety and the effectiveness of emergency response efforts.