Parkland County to roll out new fire cost recovery plan in the new year

Parkland County is planning to charge individuals for emergency responses for major fires that are deemed preventable.

The motion was passed by the region's council in September. The provision includes damage from motor vehicle collisions, structural fires, outdoor fires and other major fire events. 

Individuals who are found to have been responsible for the damage will be charged for the fire emergency services it required.

Parkland County's fire chief, Brian Cornforth, said he hopes the policy will address rising costs associated with damage from extreme weather. 

"This is really not to put pressure on our tax system for events that are, what we would consider, preventable, " he said. 

This particular cost-recovery method isn't new. According to Cornforth, neighbouring municipalities including Spruce Grove and Sturgeon County have similar plans in place.

"Through good common practice, [it's] something that we would do to avoid any negligent activities that people do that cause the entire tax base to pay for their decisions on not minding good fire safety," he said.

The county, located west of Edmonton, was the site of two major wildfires in 2023. These fires forced the evacuation of hundreds from their homes and cost the county about $13 million for firefighting efforts. 

The cost of mistakes

Previously, Parkland County would invoice all fire response services to insurance companies. 

But as extreme weather situations become more frequent, Cornforth is concerned about the upcoming summer season. 

The Alberta Wildfire status dashboard recorded 1,223 wildfires in the most recent season. It said that about 620 are believed to have been caused by human activity. 

The Insurance Bureau of Canada told CBC News that the national average for claims due to environmental damage has increased exponentially in the past few years.

"Insured losses related to severe weather in Canada now routinely exceed $2 billion annually — and in most recent years, the total has exceeded $3 billion annually," said a statement from media manager Bret Weltman.

"Further, 2024 ranks as the costliest year for severe weather with over $8 billion in insured losses."

By comparison, Canadian insurers paid out an average of $701 million per year between 2001 and 2010. 

Typically, wildfire damage is covered by home and business property insurance policies, according to Weltman. 

What local businesses expect

Norman Leach, executive director of the Greater Parkland Regional Chamber of Commerce, said businesses are usually prepared for fire events and damages. The chamber also oversees Spruce Grove and Stony Plain.

"As Parkland grows, it's more and more stress on those emergency services and we recognize that," he said. 

"Quite frankly, most of our businesses have all the insurance they need to cover those costs." 

While the plan has yet to go into effect, Leach is concerned about how the county will apply the policy.

"If it becomes a way to collect tax in a different way — much like how many of us feel photo radar has become a way to collect tax as opposed to safety — we would certainly have something to say about that," he said.

Cornforth said the intent of the policy is to target people who are causing a real problem to the region's safety.

"Ideally, this is to help drive people to make sure that they have 'fire-smarted' their properties and that they manage any open burning on their land," he said.  

The policy will go into effect Jan. 1.