A provincial state of emergency was called on May 6 in Alberta as more than 100 wildfires raged throughout the province, with 36 of those considered to be burning uncontrollably. By the end of the weekend, close to 30,000 Alberta residents had been evacuated from their homes.
States of emergency are called under Alberta’s Emergency Management Act, which is a legal mechanism that “provides the provincial government with a higher level of intergovernmental co-ordination by working with municipalities, organizations and businesses to support evacuated residents,” according to CBC. Nearly 350,000 hectares of land have burned since the beginning of the year.
For those affected by the fires, wildfire emergency updates can be found at alberta.ca/Emergency. The entire province remains under a fire ban and a provincial off-highway vehicle restriction is in place. The recreational use of off-highway vehicles on public land, including on designated trails, is prohibited.
Alberta Wildfire is also asking those who are flying recreational drones to stop immediately. This greatly endangers firefighting personnel and may even cause firefighting operations to stop.
Albertans can find a current map of wildfires and their threat level at the Alberta Wildfire Dashboard, which details how many active wildfires there are happening in the province, where they are, and whether or not they are determined as out of control, which means they are expected to keep growing.
Where to go for help if affected by wildfire in Alberta
All evacuees are reminded to please comply with evacuation orders and with all provincial guidance on how to return to your property.
Eligible fire evacuees (those who have been forced from their homes for seven days or longer) are able to receive a one-time payment of $1,250 to help offset the costs of displacement. Families with children are eligible to receive $500 for each dependent. Evacuees can apply online at alberta.ca/Emergency using their Alberta.ca Account.
Emergency assistance centres are open in the following locations. Evacuees should register online before arriving in order to expedite the payment process.
Big Lakes County
Elks Rodeo Hall at 74508 on Highway 749 north of the Town of High Prairie
Brazeau County and Drayton Valley
Edmonton Expo Centre, Hall C at 7515 118 Avenue NW, Edmonton
County of Grande Prairie
Bonnetts Energy Centre at 10017 99 Avenue
Fox Creek, Little Smoky and surrounding areas
Allan and Jean Millar Centre at 58 Sunset Boulevard
Fox Lake
High Level Arena at 10101 105 Avenue
Fort Vermillion
Fort Vermillion Community & Cultural Complex at 5001 44 Avenue
High Level
High Level Arena at 10101 105 Avenue
Parkland County
Parkland County Jubilee Hall at 5132 53 Avenue in Wabamun
Town of Rainbow Lake
High Level Arena at 10101 105 Avenue
Whitefish River and Aitkameg
Slave Lake Town Office at 10 Main Street
Yellowhead County
Call 1-833-334-4630 or go to the Dr. Duncan Murray Recreation Centre at 805 Switzer Drive in Hinton or the Jasper Fitness & Aquatic Centre at 305 Bonhomme Street in Jasper.
Your insurance considerations if you have been affected by wildfire
Rural populations and smaller communities are at the highest level of peril for wildfire in Alberta due to their proximity to densely forested areas and the fact that blazes can burn for some time without anyone noticing. Over 60% of the Canadian population live in areas where wildfires can occur.
With such a constant risk, Alberta property owners can feel confident that virtually every home insurance policy covers for damages caused by fire – including those started by human error. What is most important is to ensure your policy adequately covers your property and belongings, which is something that expert insurance brokers such as us at Lane’s can help you determine. A good home insurance policy should also provide coverage for living expenses while necessary repairs are being carried out to your home.
An important detail rural property owners should pay particular attention to is whether or not firefighting insurance is included in their policy. In certain counties, property owners are expected to pay at least part of the cost of firefighting services should they be required.
Most comprehensive auto insurance policies also include coverage for fire, but if you live in a high-risk area for wildfire in Alberta it’s worth it to ask an insurance broker to help you double check.
Common causes of wildfires
Alberta is well-known for its spectacular lightning shows, so much so that the province is estimated to receive an average of 400,000 strikes each summer. According to the Canada Safety Council, lightning flashes occur about every three seconds in the summer, with Canadian Underwriter tallying the total number of hits at somewhere between 2 and 2.5 million a year throughout the country.
Lightning is a major cause of wildfires, but is not the primary source. In 2019, more than 70% of fires in Alberta were started by humans, say officials in a Calgary Herald article. Causes include careless smoking, sparks from ATVs and other off-road vehicles, out of control campfires, and, of course, lightning.
Protect your home from wildfire in Alberta
Wildfire protection can begin by ensuring the following mitigation measures have been undertaken:
- Everyone should know your home fire evacuation plan in detail
- Ensure your home inventory is kept in a safe place for home insurance purposes
- Remove tinder such as dried branches, leaves and debris from your property and gutters
- Keep combustibles well away from your home
- Keep your lawn trimmed
- Do not pile wood near any structure
- Do not use mulch near your foundation
- Have a couple lawn sprinklers handy at all times
- Make sure there are no branches or vegetation near power lines
Discover the difference Lane’s can make
Knowing you are prepared for the worst can provide the peace of mind you deserve. Insurance works the same way. Lane’s Insurance’s experienced brokers are here to help you keep your Calgary home insurance rates as low as possible while still enjoying the vital protections you need. We offer outstanding rates on home insurance, along with value-added services and money-saving insurance bundles. Contact us at our Calgary, Banff, Edmonton and greater Alberta offices to see what we can do for you.
