The RMA’s Wildfire Working Group (WWG) met throughout the summer of 2024 and again in January 2025 to develop a strategy to manage wildfires outside the Forest Protection Area (FPA), as requested by RMA resolution 7-23F: Strategy for Management of Wildland Fires Outside Forest Protection Area. Members of the WWG represent:
- Brazeau County
- Leduc County
- Parkland County
- Westlock County
- ABmunis
- Alberta Fire Chiefs Association
- Alberta Forest Products Association
- Alberta Emergency Management Agency (AEMA)
- Alberta Forestry and Parks
- Alberta Environment and Protected Areas
- Alberta Municipal Affairs
- The WWG is chaired by RMA Vice President John Burrows and co-chaired by RMA District 4 Director Karen Rosvold
This work has culminated in RMA’s Wildfire Working Group Report, which provides 31 recommendations to the Government of Alberta, Government of Canada, municipalities, and other agencies and organizations. The board of the Alberta Fire Chiefs Association (AFCA) has endorsed the recommendations of this report, and RMA is grateful for their support on this important work. This work includes recommendations related to how respective parties prepare for, respond to, and recover from wildfires outside of the FPA. Additionally, the report provides an overview of previous after-action reports and presents the analysis of an RMA survey conducted in conjunction with the report. RMA is sending the report to the various ministries and agencies responsible for wildfire management requesting a response, and will report to members on progress in actioning the various recommendations in the coming months.