Alberta adds 10% more firefighters for 2026 wildfire season

A fire south of Edmonton is being held at 20 hectares. People living in nearby Leduc and Parkland counties have been told to be ready to leave.

Alberta has hired more than 550 seasonal firefighters for this year’s wildfire season, the province said Monday in a media release.

That’s an increase of 10 per cent from last year.

Todd Loewen, the minister of forestry and parks, said the government is “using all available tools to create a more wildfire-resilient Alberta.

“We’re taking action so Albertans, our municipal partners and our communities can feel safer and more prepared during the 2026 wildfire season,” he said in the media release.

Beyond hiring more firefighters this season, the actions include new partnerships with communities and investing in new equipment.

The province this year introduced a new program, the Mutual Aid Incentive Pilot, which offers municipalities up to $125,000 to support wildfire response and encourages them to ask for provincial assistance sooner.

Two months ago, the province said it will spend $400 million to buy five new water bombers from De Havilland Canada. The Canadair 515 amphibious firefighting aircraft will be built in Alberta.

The province also has access to more firefighting resources through contracts and mutual aid agreements if they’re needed.

Last year, Alberta Wildfire brought in more than 1,000 Canadian and international firefighters to support local crews.

Alberta’s official wildfire season runs March 1 to Oct. 31. The province budgeted $169 million for wildfire efforts in 2026, up $9 million from last year. Its wildfire budget in 2024 was $155 million.