Number of Human and Industry Caused Wildfires

Indicator Type: Environmental Pressure

This indicator shows the number of wildfires annually within Alberta's Forest Protection Area that are caused by humans or by industry. Alberta's target is to have less than 300 fires per year caused by humans, and less than 60 per year caused by industry.

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Trend: Increasing

What does the indicator show?

The number of human- and industry-caused wildfires is increasing. This is due to a number of factors. They include drought, population growth, increased access and industrial use within the Forest Protection Area. The leading causes of wildfires from human activities include brush-pile burning from land clearing, abandoned cooking and warming fires, the use of off-highway vehicles, and oil and gas flare stacks. The indicator is comparable to other jurisdictions across Canada.

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Why is this indicator important?

This indicator provides information on the cause of fires within the Forest Protection Area. This information leads to greater understanding about how fire prevention activities can be improved.

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What actions are being taken?

Alberta Sustainable Resource Development works cooperatively with municipalities, industry, and other stakeholders to protect the multiple benefits received from forests. It supports outreach programs that promote responsible forest management, and uses leading science and technology to prevent and suppress wildfires.

Alberta Sustainable Resource Development has a program called "FireSmart" to raise awareness about forest fire prevention. In 2003 and 2004, 26 FireSmart projects began in Alberta. FireSmart projects were completed in Conklin, Hinton and Crowsnest Pass. About 64,000 FireSmart manuals and 200 videos have been distributed to municipalities and the public.

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Links to additional information

Alberta's Forest Division: http://www.srd.gov.ab.ca/wildfires/

FireSmart program: http://www.srd.gov.ab.ca/wildfires/firesmart/

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Feedback

E-mail the SOE Coordinator: SOE.Coordinator@gov.ab.ca or complete this short on-line questionnaire to provide your feedback: http://www.zoomerang.com/
survey.zgi?p=WEB224DW6P3E2K.

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