Flat Top Complex Wildfire Review Committee Recommendations – Implementation Status
Government of Alberta has fully met the intent of all 21 recommendations provided in the Flat Top Complex Wildfire Review Committee report. Initiatives that respond to the recommendations have been incorporated within Agriculture and Forestry’s wildfire management program. The Government remains committed to continual improvement in order to reduce the risk of wildfires to Albertans, communities, natural resources, and other values.
Open All
Close All
Wildfire Prevention
Recommendation 1: Enhancements to Wildfire Prevention
Highlights of Implementation
Enforcement, Communication, Education
- Amended the Forest and Prairie Protection Act (increased fines, March 1 start to fire season, etc.).
- Enhanced wildfire prevention education and outreach.
- Enhanced partnerships with stakeholders and the wildfire science community.
- Updated implementation of forest area closures and fire restrictions and bans.
Recommendation 2: Human-caused Wildfires/Limited Liability Fire Control Agreement
Highlights of Implementation
Enforcement, Communication, Education
- Amended the Forest and Prairie Protection Act (e.g., increased fines).
- Developed or updated agreements with stakeholders.
- Enhanced relationships with education, outreach and enforcement partners.
- Enhanced the wildfire investigation program and cost recovery efforts.
Recommendation 3: Revised Delivery Model/Enhanced Funding for FireSmart
Highlights of Implementation
Agreements, Partnerships
- Established partnership with the Forest Resource Improvement Association of Alberta (FRIAA) to support administration of FireSmart work.
- Supported the Slave Lake and Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo wildfire recovery efforts (e.g., FireSmart initiatives).
Recommendation 4: Accelerate Fuel Management Treatments
Highlights of Implementation
FireSmart, Partnerships, Agreements
- Enhanced partnerships and agreements.
- Ongoing commitment to FireSmart fuel management treatments.
= Fully met the intent of the recommendation. Ongoing implementation.
Preparedness and Capacity
Recommendation 5: Advance Resource Start Times/Fill Vacancies/Expand Work Terms
Highlights of Implementation
Resources
- Enhanced airtanker capability.
- Enhance training, recruitment, retention and succession of wildfire management personnel.
- Equipment, manpower, and aircraft contracts in place earlier.
Recommendation 6: In-house Expanded Attack (Unit) Crews
Highlights of Implementation
Resources
- Hired more sustained action firefighting unit crews (8 crews of 20 firefighters).
Recommendation 7: Fire Behaviour Specialists/Wildfire Occurrence Prediction
Highlights of Implementation
Resources, Information
- Enhanced role and number of fire behavior specialists.
- Enhanced wildfire occurrence prediction to include weather and resources.
Recommendation 8: Resource Requests
Highlights of Implementation
FireSmart, Partnerships
- Developed a team of wildfire professionals to assess long term resource needs.
- Developed and implement guidelines to inform resource deployment.
- Participated in multi-jurisdictional planning.
Recommendation 9: Partnerships
Highlights of Implementation
Partnerships
- Updated mutual aid agreements and plans with municipalities.
- Worked with Alberta Emergency Management Agency (AEMA) and the Office of the Fire Commissioner (OFC) to clarify roles and responsibilities.
= Fully met the intent of the recommendation. Ongoing implementation.
Communications
Recommendation 10: Standards/Training for Staff who provide Wildfire Information
Highlights of Implementation
Training
- Enhanced communications protocols and planning with government and non-government partners.
- Enhanced training and standards for Information Officers.
Recommendation 11: Fire Weather Advisories
Highlights of Implementation
Information, Partnerships
- Enhanced wildfire safety briefings, wildfire information and Fire Weather Advisories.
- Standardize the wildfire alert system within Canada.
Recommendation 12: Dispatch and Resource Tracking Systems
Highlights of Implementation
Information
- Enhanced resource tracking through e-logging.
- Ongoing modernization of wildfire data management system.
- Upgrade radio systems to be compatible with partnering agencies.
Recommendation 13: Alternative Communication Technologies
Highlights of Implementation
Communications
- Enhance social media communications to provide timely information.
- Integrated the use of mobile devices on the fireline.
- Launched a web-based application.
= Fully met the intent of the recommendation. Ongoing implementation.
Organization and Incident Management
Recommendation 14: Reporting Relationship
Highlights of Implementation
Organization
- Implemented a direct line reporting structure and a service level agreement.
Recommendation 15: Wildfire Management Internal Assessments/ Benchmarking
Highlights of Implementation
Reviews, Strategies, Partnerships
- Developed the Wildfire Management Branch Strategic Plan 2017-2019.
- Enhanced national partnerships.
- Established standards for assessing wildfire management programs.
Recommendation 16: Incident Command System
Highlights of Implementation
Communications, Organization, Partnerships
- Continue training for government staff, partner first responders, and integration of the Incident Command System
- Enhanced communications and cross-training with AEMA and Municipalities.
- Provide support to the AEMA Provincial Emergency Operations Centre.
= Fully met the intent of the recommendation. Ongoing implementation.
Post-Wildfire Business Resumption
Recommendation 17: Business Continuity Plans
Highlights of Implementation
Planning
- Ongoing review and update of the department’s business continuity plans.
- Provincial business continuity plan has been reviewed and renewed.
= Fully met the intent of the recommendation. Ongoing implementation.
Policy, Procedures and Legislation
Recommendation 18: Wildfire Policies and Procedures
Highlights of Implementation
Policies, Procedures, Plans, Training
- Clarified roles and responsibilities for structural protection.
- Developed Wildfire Management Branch Strategic Plan 2017-2019.
- Revised wildfire management planning tools.
- Updated procedures and training requirements.
Recommendation 19: Forest and Prairie Protection Act and Regulations
Highlights of Implementation
Legislation
- Amended the Forest and Prairie Protection Act and associated regulations including agency responsibilities, wildfire investigations, fire control authorizations, administrative penalties, and definitions.
= Fully met the intent of the recommendation. Ongoing implementation.
Research and Development
Recommendation 20: Research, Development and Monitoring
Highlights of Implementation
Policies, Procedures, Plans, Training
- Collaborated with other agencies and organizations on various research and development initiatives.
- Exploration of new technology to support wildfire management programs.
Recommendation 21: Presuppression Preparedness System/Wildfire Occurrence Prediction
Highlights of Implementation
Information
- Collaborated with national wildfire management community on the development and implementation of wildfire occurrence prediction.
- Established a planning team which supports the forecasting of wildfire suppression resource needs.
- Ongoing modernization of wildfire management decision support systems.
= Fully met the intent of the recommendation. Ongoing implementation.
Updated: Jan 16, 2018