After being criticized last year for cutting down its budget for wildfire management – particularly following the costly Fort McMurray blaze – the provincial government of Alberta is attempting to learn from its mistakes and is improving this year’s wildfire season plan.
The Fort McMurray wildfire destroyed a total of 2,302 residences, 1,599 structures, and 15 commercial properties, costing the city $500 million. Insurable losses following the disaster exceeded $3.6 billion, making it the most costly catastrophe for insurers in Canadian history.
Learn more about wildfire insurance here.
Last year, the provincial government slashed its base wildfire management budget by $9.6 million. It also cut its water tanker contracts by $5.1 million.
For this year, however, the government has extended water tanker contracts to 120 days in time for wildfire season, which begins March 01.
Want the latest insurance industry news first? Sign up for our completely free newsletter service now.
The government is also enforcing the new Forest and Prairie Protection Act, which prohibits Albertans from abandoning campfires or burning during bans, with increased fines for violators. The new regulation also fines corporations up to $1 million for fire safety breaches.
Calgary Sun reported that the government is currently deploying firefighting equipment across the province in anticipation for this year’s wildfire season.
According to data, over 60% of the wildfires in 2016 were caused by human activity. A total of 1,338 conflagrations burned over 611,000 hectares.
Related stories:
Canadian non-life insurance market ‘likely’ to recover in 2017 – Fitch
Canada’s insurable damage total for 2016 revealed
%20(500%20x%20333).jpg)
