Taking wildfire operations to new heights
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Summary
Learn more about Alberta Wildfire preparedness for the coming wildfire season. Premier Rachel Notley delivers a statement at the Grand Prairie Wildfire Warehouse in Grand Prairie, Alberta on the first day of Wildfire Preparedness Week.
Transcript
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It is my pleasure to be here at the Grand Prairie Wildfire Warehouse and to connect with the team
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here to learn more about our preparations for the year ahead. As we head into the 2024 wildfire
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season, I know Albertans are concerned about protecting their homes and communities from
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wildfires. As a rural Albertan myself, I understand these fears all too well. The first priority of
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Alberta's government is to do all we can to be ready for this year's wildfire season, which is
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why Budget 2024-25 allocated new funding to support wildfire preparedness. I'm proud to share some
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details on this funding and a few ways it will enable us to better prepare for, prevent and respond to
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and mitigate fires through enhanced resources. In 2023, we piloted a number of firefighting
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technologies aimed at improving our responsiveness and effectiveness. I'm pleased to give many of
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these resources a permanent spot on our front lines this wildfire season. Through Budget 2024,
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we are increasing our night vision helicopter capacity to three contracts, which includes two
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medium helicopters and one heavy helicopter. These aircraft are equipped with night vision imaging
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systems, allowing us to better gauge the size and scope of fires to improve tactics and respond faster
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to wildfires across the province. Night vision goggles amplify light 60,000 times, allowing pilots to
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identify active parts of wildfires quickly. This groundbreaking technology will enable faster
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and more accurate response to wildfires. Aircraft are crucial for wildfire response and Alberta
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Wildfire currently has 18 long-term helicopter contracts available throughout the wildfire season.
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Budget 2024 will increase contracted air tanker groups from 8 to 10 and will enable the province to
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renew 130 casual charter helicopter contracts. Casual air tanker contracts are important so we can call
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up additional air tankers when wildfire conditions dictate that more help is needed. Budget funding also
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enables Alberta Wildfire to continue using high-tech drones to support wildfire management operations.
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Drones deliver real-time information about fires which helps us know where to send wildland firefighters to
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curb the flames. Drones are also able to fly over areas that would be too dangerous for piloted aircraft,
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which helps us collect valuable data that we otherwise wouldn't have. A final technological resource
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I would like to mention is artificial intelligence. Since 2022, we have successfully used an AI-powered tool
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developed by Edmonton-based company Alta ML to help wildfire managers make strategic decisions.
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The wildfire occurrence prediction system determines the probability of a new wildfire starting in a
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given area. This technology will continue to be important to our firefighting efforts this year,
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providing decision makers with an additional source of information to consider as they allocate resources
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such as wildland firefighters, helicopters and heavy equipment to where they will be needed most.
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The wildfire occurrence prediction system can analyze granular data sources to give staff members more
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specific insights about the regions they make decisions for. This prediction system was created
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here in Alberta and I'm proud to use this technology to keep Albertans safe. While technology is important,
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there is no wildfire response without the boots on the ground who bravely put their own safety at risk
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to contain and reduce the spread of wildfire on the front lines. I'd like to extend my sincere gratitude to
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all members of Alberta Wildfire team for the work they do every day to protect Albertans and our communities.
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Last month, I announced Forestry and Parks' request to hire an additional 100 firefighters to create
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five more 20-person crews. I'm pleased this has been included in Budget 2024 and look forward to its
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approval in the Legislature. Alberta Wildfire continually evaluates the technology and tools we employ
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to improve our processes and become more efficient, which often includes adopting new technology and
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innovative practices. Budget allocation is not always easy, but I can assure you that Alberta's
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Government made these funding decisions with Albertans and communities in mind. Additional funding
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through Budget 2024 and our focus on continuous evaluation and improvement will help us achieve that
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goal. Again, I want to reassure Albertans that we are prepared for the worst while hoping for the best