Edmonton's wildfire prevention drones and AI tools earn national recognition from fire chiefs
The city received an award for best practices in wildland-urban interface protection, combining semi-autonomous thermal drones, sensor networks and AI forecasting.
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Edmonton has been recognized by the Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs for best practices in wildland-urban interface wildfire risk, making it one of the first major municipalities to implement such a comprehensive strategy.
The city's wildfire prevention system protects more than 7,400 hectares across the North Saskatchewan River valley—Edmonton's primary wildfire corridor—using technology and personnel from multiple departments working in tandem.
The setup includes a fleet of semi-autonomous thermal drones that can spot smoke invisible from roads or buildings, a 55-node environmental sensor grid that detects flames within 15 minutes, and an AI forecasting tool called EmberWise that allows officials to decide on fire restrictions or bans based on local weather conditions. On the ground, the city removes problem vegetation and uses prescribed burns to reduce fuel loads.
Deputy Fire Chief Megan Rogers said the award "recognizes what we can accomplish when we bring our expertise together, identify risks before emergencies happen and work toward a shared goal of protecting our communities."
Since 2020, Edmonton has dealt with more than 2,000 grass fires, caused by discarded cigarettes, ATVs, fireworks, improperly kept fire pits and people ignoring fire bans. Humans are responsible for more than 60 per cent of wildfires in Alberta.
The city has trained more than 900 employees in emergency social services to support residents during evacuations, and offers free FireSmart programs to help residents reduce wildfire hazards around their homes.
The facts
What award did Edmonton receive for wildfire prevention?
Edmonton received recognition from the Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs for best practices in wildland-urban interface wildfire risk.
How many hectares does Edmonton's wildfire prevention system protect?
The system protects more than 7,400 hectares across the North Saskatchewan River valley, Edmonton's primary wildfire corridor.
What technology does Edmonton use to detect fires?
Edmonton uses a fleet of semi-autonomous thermal drones to spot smoke, a 55-node environmental sensor grid that detects flames within 15 minutes, and an AI forecasting tool called EmberWise.
How many grass fires has Edmonton dealt with since 2020?
Edmonton has dealt with more than 2,000 grass fires since 2020, primarily caused by discarded cigarettes, ATVs, fireworks, improperly kept fire pits, and people ignoring fire bans.
