Fire season began on March 1 in Alberta and while rain (or even snow) may still be falling in parts of the province, the AER is always preparing to ensure we can respond to any incident, including fire, effectively.
As Sean Harris, emergency response coordinator with the AER’s Emergency Management team, explains:
“Our team has had a range of pre-planning and regular meetings with emergency response partners and teams from Alberta Environment, Alberta Wildfire, and the Alberta Emergency Management Agency. Being prepared is 90 per cent of effective emergency management.”
While Sean is quick to point out that energy sites are equipped with strong fire protection and prevention strategies, the AER issued a bulletin earlier this spring reminding industry of the directives and resources available to help prevent wildfires.
AER staff are on standby 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to ensure energy companies manage all types of incidents appropriately.
It is the company’s responsibility to lead the response, and they must be prepared to act quickly and effectively to protect the public and the environment. If an emergency arises, the AER’s Emergency Management team works directly with licensees to ensure their response aligns with our regulatory requirements.
We do this by requiring companies to have emergency response plans (ERPs) ready to implement in emergency situations, including during wildfires. Proactive fire control measures are also recommended to be in place that include wildfire mitigation, prevention, preparedness, and response as well as acquiring and maintaining fire suppression equipment as required under the Forest and Prairie Protection Act and associated regulations, including AER’s Directive 060: Upstream Petroleum Industry Flaring, Incinerating, and Venting, and Directive 071: Emergency Preparedness and Response.
The team also ensures that accurate, field-verified information is shared with those who need it most. A critical tool in this process is our GIS mapping system, which can rapidly identify licensees and energy infrastructure in a given area—an essential source of real-time intelligence during an incident such as a fire.
Keeping Albertans safe is always our top priority—and working with licensees during wildfire season is just one of the many ways we serve the public.
To report an energy or environmental emergency, call the 24-hour response line: 1-800-222-6514.
