BlazeGuardian

Wildfires pose major hazards to communities and ecosystems in Alberta and therefore, we need to study their dynamics and derive proper management strategies for effective management. This report provides a comprehensive analysis of wildfire statistics ranging from 2006 to 2021 including fire size and class on one hand and vulnerability of the Indigenous populations on the other hand. By conducting systematic data assessment, we decipher how wildfires occur, how severe they are, and what management strategies are used, giving policymakers, emergency responders, and community stakeholders the necessary information. Our findings pinpoint the fire activity hotspots characterized by frequent Class E blazes and long-term firefighting in regions such as High Level and along the Children of the Forest Highway, that is areas with the highest fire risk, which need special attention. Also, annual trends are explored that show the promising decline in fire counts but draw attention to the spikes in severity which needs continued implementation of measures to enhance preventions and fire suppression. In addition to this, the appraisal of firefighting resources points out the significance of prudent resource allocation for decreasing the adverse impacts of wildfires. These regions, which consist of areas that are not well-resourced in comparison to their measured danger, such as High Level and Peace River, can benefit from targeted projects that boost fire fighting capacity and save vulnerable communities. Importantly, the resulting analysis highlights the particularly detrimental effects of wildfires on Indigenous populations pointing to the urgent need for culturally competent intervention and equitable resource distribution to safeguard the health and security of all communities. Leveraging findings from this study, the stakeholders can create more focused and successful approaches for the mitigation of wildfire hazard risk and impact in Alberta, protecting lives and landscapes for future generations.