Take action NOW to support Alberta's wildland firefighters

Alberta government is playing with fire and risking lives

Tell your MLA it's time to take wildland firefighting fears seriously:

The 2023 wildfire season was the most destructive on record and still haunts many Albertans’ memories. With another drought and warmer temperatures on the way, the signs are pointing to this year being just as bad – or worse.

Last year:

<ul>
	<li>1,088 fires burned.&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
	<li>26,000 square kilometres of forests, farmland, and property destroyed.&nbsp;</li>
	<li>38,000 people evacuated from 48 communities.&nbsp;</li>
	<li>8 wildland firefighters died across Canada.&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

&nbsp; 
Alberta must be ready to respond to the same level of disaster, but the provincial government is disastrously unprepared. It doesn’t have a plan to cope with another bad fire season, it hasn’t put enough money in the budget to deal with what’s coming, and it doesn’t have the workers in place that it will need.

To effectively fight fires on the scale we saw last year, you need a seasoned team including front-line firefighters, dispatchers, watchers in lookout towers, schedulers, warehouse workers, logistics workers, foresters and more. Last year, workers from across the Natural Resources department were called on to help. 
 
But the experience we so desperately need is missing. 
 
Seasonal firefighters are not applying to work in the Alberta program. Man-up supervisors, forest officers, and many others are leaving their jobs because they are worn down after years of department cuts, resulting in crushing workloads.&nbsp; 
 
They are taking up jobs in the same field for other jurisdictions, including Parks Canada and the B.C. government, or they are moving into different careers. 
 
The lack of experience on the ground and behind the scenes is putting Alberta communities, Alberta homes, and Alberta lives at risk.

Retention-and-recruitment crisis&nbsp;

Alberta is failing to retain and recruit the workers it desperately needs, including wildland firefighters.&nbsp; 
 
When asked about how recruitment was going, Forestry and Parks Minister Todd Loewen said: "It’s going really good. In fact, it’s one of the best years for recruiting that we’ve had.” 
 
This is not true. More than 50% of seasonal workers aren’t returning, many leaving to do the same work for other agencies, including Parks Canada and the B.C. government.

Crisis in experience and leadership

The government’s retention-and-recruitment crisis is creating serious consequences. Wildland firefighters with only one or two years of experience are now being appointed to be leads on firefighting crews. They are being asked to lead crews who have even less experience. &nbsp; 
 
Frankly, our wildland firefighters think Albertans should be scared.&nbsp;

Wildland firefighters treated unfairly

Most firefighters, including municipal and Métis firefighters, are given presumptive cancer coverage because they are exposed to extreme levels of carcinogens in their work. This means if they get certain types of cancer, it is presumed that they got it at work and they may be eligible for Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB) benefits. 
 
Alberta wildland firefighters don’t get presumptive cancer coverage. This means it’s much harder for them to get the same level of care. 
 
Is it fair to ask wildland firefighters to expose themselves to extreme levels of carcinogens as they protect Albertans while the government fails to protect them?&nbsp; 
 
It’s no wonder they are leaving in droves.

It’s time to fix the crisis before it’s too late!&nbsp;

When the roar of the flames is heading your way, you want the best people—the most experienced team—fighting to save your community, your home, and your life. 
 
The Alberta government is forcing too many experienced workers to leave for work in other jurisdictions and is struggling to hire new workers. 
 
I support our wildland firefighters and workers in the department of Natural Resources. I call on you, my MLA, to urge the Minister of Forestry and Parks to act now. 
 
Failure to fix this will result in Alberta not being ready when the fires are raging through forests, threatening communities, homes and lives.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Please fill out the fields below to sign your name and send this letter to your MLA:

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If you are a firefighter, please select the "I'm a firefighter with the Alberta Wildfire Management Branch" checkbox below and make sure to share your off-season contact information.

I'm a firefighter with the Alberta Wildfire Management Branch

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Take action NOW to support Alberta's wildland firefighters

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