Work continues to reclaim Alberta land affected by 2024 fireguards
'Reclamation work aims to promote reforestation and limit public access in these areas'
After another devastating wildfire season in 2024, work is once again underway to reclaim natural areas disturbed by the creation of fireguards.
Fireguards, a common fire-suppression technique, are strategically placed barriers that aim to stop — or at least hinder — wildfire from spreading. Often, heavy equipment is used to remove vegetation that could fuel the flames, leaving only soil.
Alberta Wildfire reported more fires in 2024 compared to the historic 2023 season, but a fraction of area burned, according to a news release the provincial government issued in October.
Alberta's 2024 wildfire season officially ended Oct. 31. Alberta Wildfire responded to more than 1,210 fires that burned more than 705,000 hectares.
The 2024 fire season highlighted the significant role played by early preparation, Trevor Lamabe, executive director of the government's wildfire management branch, said in the October news release. As well, spending on people, resources and technology "proved invaluable," Lamabe said.
One area the government wants to reclaim before summer is near the Firebag River in northeastern Alberta.
Those wildfires — named the Cattail Lake Complex — burned about eight kilometres northeast of industrial facilities, about 50 kilometres northeast Fort McKay and 70 kilometres northeast of Fort McMurray.
A fireguard was built on the northwestern edge of the perimeter.
A request for proposal is out now for this section of the reclamation job.
The total area of reclamation is estimated at around 160 hectares. The work will include the removal of landing pads for helicopters, creek crossings and large dozer guards.
To limit potential damage, the work has to be done when the ground is frozen, according to forestry ministry spokesperson Alexandru Cioban.
"Reclamation work aims to promote reforestation and limit public access in these areas," Cioban said in an emailed statement.
"This work involves putting back the organic layer of soil and vegetation that was removed during firefighting, which promotes forest regrowth and reduces erosion."
Seeding the steep embankments created by the work of creating fireguards helps prevent erosion as well.
Portions of that fireguard have already been reclaimed, with a focus on rehabilitating areas near the Firebag River, according to the request-for-proposal documents.
A temporary crossing of the Firebag River is needed to finish work north of the river. Crews will also have to access part of the guard through the site of Imperial Oil's Kearl Lake oilsands operation.
The request for proposal closes on March 3. The contract is expected to begin March 7 and end on March 31.