Nearly 1300 wildfires occurred in Alberta during the 2025 wildfire season, with just over half of them caused by human activities. Flaring operations, inadequately extinguished burn or brush piles, and hot vehicle exhausts, including exhaust from off-highway vehicles, are the leading cause of energy-related wildfires.
Proactive fire control measures should 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 the AER’s Directive 060: Upstream Petroleum Industry Flaring, Incinerating, and Venting and Directive 071: Emergency Preparedness and Response.
Under Directive 071, approval holders must have a corporate emergency response plan (ERP) and maintain it at a level of detail proportionate to its operations. The plan must also address hazards and potential consequences of the emergency scenarios that its operations pose to the public and the environment, including activities that have the potential to ignite a wildfire. Directive 071 also provides information on criteria to evaluate when contemplating an ERP activation. Mutual aid should be a consideration through effective communication and coordination with local fire departments and municipalities.
Additional information about wildfire conditions in your area, how to be notified if they occur, or how to prepare for wildfires or other natural hazards, is available from the following sources:
- Alberta Wildfire: https://www.alberta.ca/alberta-wildfire
- Fire Danger: https://www.alberta.ca/fire-danger
- Fire Permits: https://www.alberta.ca/get-a-fire-permit
- FireSmart: https://www.alberta.ca/firesmart
- Alberta Emergency Alert: https://www.alberta.ca/alberta-emergency-alert.aspx
If you have questions regarding this bulletin, contact the AER’s Customer Contact Centre by phone at 403-297-8311 (1-855-297-8311 toll free) or by email at inquiries@aer.ca.
