By James Rodriguez, The Appleton Times
CANMORE, Alberta — As spring snow lingers on the peaks of the Canadian Rockies, wildfire season has officially begun in Alberta, bringing a familiar undercurrent of unease to mountain communities nestled amid dense forests. In towns like Canmore and Hinton, residents and officials are not taking chances, drawing stark lessons from the devastating 2024 Jasper wildfire that razed a third of that town's structures and forced 25,000 people to evacuate under cover of night.
Canmore, a picturesque tourist hub just west of Calgary, is ramping up defenses with a multi-phase project to construct a fireguard encircling the community. The initiative clears strips of land of trees and vegetation to create barriers that deprive advancing flames of fuel. Mayor Sean Krausert, reflecting on Jasper's ordeal, emphasized the shared vulnerability of these wooded enclaves. “Being a community, very much like ours … a tourist destination surrounded by trees … it could happen to you,” Krausert said in an interview. “It was just a reminder of how devastating wildfire is and it certainly was one of the motivators for us in the work we’re doing.”
The first phase of Canmore's fireguard is already complete on the south-facing slopes of nearby mountains, areas that receive the most sunlight and dry out quickest, heightening fire risk. A second phase is progressing on a ridge overlooking the town, where crews have felled trees, leaving behind towering piles of debris — some reaching 10 meters high — slated for controlled burns next winter. Plans for a third phase call for a 150-meter-wide swath stretching 15 kilometers south along the Bow Valley.
Even as these large-scale projects unfold, local efforts focus on individual properties through the Canmore FireSmart program, which now covers 13 neighborhoods. The initiative educates homeowners on preventive measures, such as clearing pine needles from gutters and removing debris from roofs to mitigate ignition risks. Simon Bagshaw, Canmore’s FireSmart coordinator, highlighted the insidious threat of embers that can leap ahead of the main fire front. “A big part of the problem is actually the ember showers that travel two kilometres ahead of the wildfire,” Bagshaw said. “They land on woodpiles, they land on conifer trees and even mulch that people have and those are the things that can ignite.”
About an hour's drive east of Jasper, the town of Hinton is pursuing similar fortifications, constructing a five-kilometer firebreak around its perimeter in response to both the Jasper blaze and a 2023 wildfire near Edson that prompted evacuations. Mayor Brian Laberge described Hinton as the unscathed middle sibling in a trio of vulnerable communities — Jasper, Hinton, and Edson. “We (Jasper, Hinton and Edson) are kind of the three sisters — and Hinton is the one in the middle that hasn’t (been hit by fire),” Laberge said.
Yet implementing these firebreaks isn't without friction. Laberge noted resistance from landowners attached to their wooded lots. “Landowners are going, ‘What the heck, I love my trees,'” he said. “You go to these guys who are living on an acreage, and now the government’s going to come and saw down all their trees?” Such pushback underscores the delicate balance between safety and preserving the natural beauty that draws visitors to these areas.
The urgency of these preparations stems from a shifting climate that's amplifying wildfire dangers across western Canada. Hotter summers, extended dry spells, and milder winters — all linked to climate change — have turned forests into tinderboxes, according to wildfire expert Jed Kaplan of the University of Calgary. “The mountain towns say between Calgary and Vancouver, those are the areas where I do think there are some concrete interventions that can be made,” Kaplan said. He added a note of cautious optimism: “We have to cross our fingers that a lot of these treatments can be completed before there is a big fire.”
Alberta's wildfire season kicked off amid already active blazes, with crews responding to 27 new fires this year, according to Forestry Minister Todd Loewen. In a statement, Loewen stressed the role of human behavior in prevention, noting that an estimated 60 percent of wildfires are ignited by people, with the remainder caused by lightning. “Even small changes in behaviour can make a big difference,” Loewen said.
The Jasper fire, which erupted in July 2024, serves as a grim benchmark for what's at stake. Sparked by lightning, it consumed over 30,000 hectares and destroyed around 800 buildings, including parts of Jasper National Park's infrastructure. The midnight evacuation saved lives but left scars on the town's economy, heavily reliant on tourism. Rebuilding efforts continue, but the event has rippled outward, prompting neighboring communities to reassess their readiness.
In Canmore, that low hum of worry persists year-round, amplified as dry winds sweep through the valley. “I think all of us who live in the valley as we go through wildfire season have some low grade anxiety,” Krausert admitted. “I don’t think you can live in a valley full of trees and be comfortable given the wildfires in the last number of years.” This sentiment echoes across the Rockies, where the allure of alpine living collides with the reality of encroaching flames.
Broader provincial strategies complement local actions. Alberta's government has invested in aerial surveillance, additional firefighting resources, and public awareness campaigns. Yet experts like Kaplan warn that while fireguards and FireSmart programs can blunt impacts, they aren't foolproof against megafires fueled by extreme weather. The 2023 Edson fire, which burned 6,000 hectares and led to the evacuation of 8,000 residents, further illustrates the interconnected risks in the region.
Looking ahead, officials in Canmore and Hinton aim to complete their fireguards by next year, weather and funding permitting. Community workshops and volunteer drives are expanding FireSmart participation, fostering a culture of collective vigilance. Loewen's office has signaled increased enforcement of campfire bans and off-road vehicle restrictions to curb human-caused ignitions.
As Alberta braces for what could be another intense season, the preparations in these mountain towns offer a model of proactive resilience. But with climate projections forecasting even harsher conditions, the 'low-grade anxiety' may evolve into a more pressing call for systemic change, from policy shifts to international cooperation on emissions. For now, in Canmore and Hinton, the focus remains on fortifying homes and horizons against the unpredictable fury of fire.
The Appleton Times will continue monitoring wildfire developments across North America.