A Personal Perspective: Why Wildfire Risk Mitigation Matters
May 13, 2025, 21:31 PMI’m Dale Thomas, a member of the FortisAlberta Wildfire Mitigation team.
After more than 35 years working for the Government of Alberta in all facets of wildfire, forestry and land management, I am now contributing by sharing my knowledge of wildfire behaviour, which, in my experience, is a mix of a science and art. I have seen first-hand the impact that wildfires can have on communities and the heartbreaking consequences of wide-scale wildfires.
My family was personally affected during the Slave Lake Wildfire in 2011, and that experience drove home the importance of proactively addressing wildfire risks and taking a collaborative approach to wildfire prevention and preparedness.
It is important to me that we continue to look at ways to reduce wildfire risks and work to do our best to avoid the destruction that wildfires can cause in communities. As an individual who lives and works in a community within the Forest Protection Area, which is within FortisAlberta service territory, I feel a personal responsibility to do everything we can to prevent wildfire disasters.
Throughout the year I work on developing and supporting the implementation of existing wildfire prevention and response strategies. I provide support and advice to the wildfire team to improve situational awareness, wildfire risk planning and wildfire incident investigations. I also collaborate and maintain contact with Alberta Wildfire and municipalities throughout fire season, where we all focus on the same goal – to keep communities safe.
Our Commitment to Safety
At FortisAlberta, we’re not just focused on keeping the lights on; we’re dedicated to ensuring the safety and well‑being of our customers. This means we continue to look at ways to improve wildfire mitigation strategies, including investing in advanced monitoring systems, maintaining clear vegetation around power lines, hardening the infrastructure with fire-resistant materials such as pole wraps and covered conductors and implementing early fault detection and safety settings, among other strategies and initiatives. It’s a team effort, and every one of us plays a part.
Why It Matters to Me
For me, this isn’t just about doing my job—it’s about safeguarding the place we all call home. I’ve seen the fear in people’s eyes when a wildfire threatens their community, and I’ve also seen the relief when they know we’re taking steps to keep them safe. Implementing our multi-pronged approach to wildfire prevention is one way we can show our commitment to wildfire prevention and what FortisAlberta is doing to protect the communities we serve.
Looking Ahead
As we continue to strengthen our wildfire prevention efforts, we’re proud to introduce enhanced public safety measures that will be phased in across designated communities throughout the 2025 wildfire season. These measures include the ability to implement Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS) during periods of extreme wildfire risk—an important step in protecting people, property, and critical infrastructure.
Preparedness
Developing a wildfire risk mitigation plan that includes proactive measures is more than just a strategy—it’s a commitment to our community. It’s about taking responsibility and doing everything we can to reduce wildfire risk. As individuals, I encourage you to be prepared for emergency situations and sign up for our outage alerts.
As a FortisAlberta employee, and as a member of a community served by FortisAlberta, I believe in the importance of these efforts and the positive impact they have on all of us.
