A fireguard around Whitecourt and Woodlands County is on the provincial table

At a meeting earlier this summer, Whitecourt Town Council learned about an expression of interest
from Alberta Forestry Parks and Tourism for grant funding to create an emergency fireguard around
communities at high risk for wildfires due to their proximity to the Boreal forest.
A fireguard is a strategically placed barrier intended to stop or slow the rate of the spread that a wildfire
has in its approach to something, in this case, a municipality. Fireguards come in all shapes and sizes.
From bulldozing a wide path, separating the forest from itself to pre-burning an area, like, for example,
around a house, to reducing flammability through water or fire retardant chemicals. Fireguards of
different kinds are used worldwide, with many using a combination of methods. The fireguard proposed
for the area would entail separating the forest, creating a break in forest fuels, and slowing or
potentially stopping an incoming wildfire.
Alberta Forestry Parks and Tourism’s expression of interest was a dipping of the proverbial toe in the
water to see what kind of interest there would be from municipalities to build the fireguard and receive
funding for it. Town of Whitecourt CAO Peter Smyl explained that, if made, the fireguard would be in
Woodlands County and placed in a way that would protect critical infrastructure for both municipalities.
He said Lee Hardman, Whitecourt’s Director of Community Safety, chatted with Woodlands County
about the project, ready to work together to create the funding application. The more they learned
about the potential funding, the more they realized there was a better way to go about the project. “It
(the fireguard) has to be done by March 31, 2024. To arrange a fireguard is not a simple process even
though we are not dealing with a lot of private owners, but a lot of leaseholders and crown land.”
Smyl explained that Whitecourt and Woodlands County agreed to send a letter to the Province instead.
“Yes, a fireguard would be a benefit. However, we would like to assist them (the Province) in doing the
fireguard application. Because it’s approved by the Province and a lot of different departments, and we
are dealing with the Province’s land and dealing with the Province’s leaseholders, we would like to have
the Province spearhead the application forward.”
Having the Province spearhead the project, rather than having the communities do it themselves, means
the Province could deal with their leaseholders instead of requiring municipalities to navigate those
waters. Given the land where most of the fireguards would take place is either connected to the
Province by leases or by the crown, seeking the Province’s lead on the project sounded logical.
Whitecourt and Woodlands County co-signed the letter, seeking the Province’s lead. Both municipalities’
Councils made nearly the same motion to support it, with both motioning to enter into an agreement
with Alberta Forestry, Parks and Tourism for the planning and assessment work required for an
emergency fireguard around the communities.
At the meeting, Mayor Tom Pickard shared that he had spoken with Forestry Minister Todd Loewen
about the matter at a conference with the Northern Alberta elected leaders. “The feeling of the
Northern Alberta elected leaders’ group was that the province should be leading this kind of initiative in
areas where the predominance of properties around certain towns, villages, hamlets, were provincially
owned.” Mayor Pickard said that though Minister Loewen didn’t make any commitments one way or

another, he did agree with the premise. “He felt it was a good idea and that there were advantages. He
felt it was worthy of further discussion with his ministry officials.”
Roughly six years ago, the Whitecourt Town Council of the day sent a letter to the Province requesting
they look into creating a fireguard for the area. “They indicated that they did not have a program for it
and would work with the situations at hand, creating fireguards as needed, but not prior to,” explained
Smyl. “This process is new. I understand there are a couple of communities in Alberta looking at this
program.”
In early July, the Province of Alberta announced 175 million in wildfire response and recovery funding
for municipalities affected by wildfire. Communities could access up to 90 percent of wildfire response-
related costs, and no dollar cap was placed on applications. Alberta Public Safety and Emergency
Preparedness Minister Mike Ellis said applications would be reviewed on a case-by-case as received.
Over 1.5 million hectares of land have burned this fire season, with over 50 communities being
impacted. Creating fireguards around communities at the most risk could reduce costs to the Province
and municipalities in future wildfire seasons.