Our Approach
Wildfires are a familiar threat in Alberta due to the province’s vast forests, prairie grasslands, high winds and dry climate. When a windstorm brings a wire to the ground or a tree falls on a line, there is a risk of ignition.
That’s why at FortisAlberta, we take wildfire prevention seriously.
FortisAlberta uses a comprehensive strategy to address wildfire risks. We patrol power lines, manage vegetation, use fire-resistant materials and deploy advanced technologies like Early Fault Detection. Our Wildfire Risk Management Plan blends traditional practices with modern innovations to protect the communities we serve.
Proactive Measures
- Regular Patrols: We conduct regular patrols of our power lines to identify and address potential hazards before they become problems.
- Vegetation Management: Our program ensures that trees and other vegetation are kept at a safe distance from power lines and equipment.
- Specialized Equipment: In high fire-risk areas, we use equipment designed to minimize the chance of ignition.
- Early Fault Detection: this technology helps us proactively identify areas in need of repairs.
- Equipment Upgrades: We upgrade and maintain equipment to the highest standards and wrap wood poles with fire-resistant mesh to protect them when a fire does occur.
Preparing Our People
Equipping our team with the right tools, training and safety protocols is crucial for wildfire situations. This includes:
- Outfitting field vehicles with firefighting tools like water packs, fire brooms and shovels.
- Training employees and contractors to:
- Modify their work practices to reduce fire risks.
- Contact emergency services when necessary.
- Ensure the safety of themselves, first responders and the public during wildfires.
- Assess whether they can safely use the firefighting equipment available to them.
24/7 Monitoring
Our Airdrie-based Control Centre is dedicated to continuous system monitoring, quick deployment of Power Line Technicians, remote equipment operation and the use of advanced mapping tools to adapt to changing weather conditions and mitigate wildfire risks. This includes:
- Round-the-clock system monitoring.
- Swift deployment of Power Line Technicians to investigate and address issues.
- Remote operation of equipment, including turning off reclosers based on wildfire conditions.
- Utilizing advanced mapping tools to track weather conditions and adjust operations as needed.
Collaboration and Governance
Our commitment to wildfire prevention is reinforced through active participation in the Power Line Wildfire Prevention Task Group. By working closely with other utilities and the Government of Alberta, we collaborate and share best practices to enhance wildfire prevention and strengthen industry resilience.
Community Involvement
We can all play a role in preventing wildfires and fire-related power outages within our communities. Visit the Alberta Fire Bans website to view current fire bans, restrictions and advisories in your area.
For more tips on wildfire prevention and preparedness, visit the Alberta Government website and FireSmart Alberta.
Preparing for an outage
Visit Prepare for a Power Outage | FortisAlberta to ensure that you and your family have what you need when an outage occurs.
In our province, there are areas considered at a higher risk of fast-spreading catastrophic wildfires. In extreme cases, the electricity transmission provider, AltaLink, has established a Public Safety Power Shut-off (PSPS) program to be implemented as a last resort measure in times of severe wildfire risk. PSPS is dependent on a variety of factors and if activated, this could result in a temporary shutdown of power to the FortisAlberta system in the affected areas.
PSPS is a last resort and only used under the most extreme circumstances, although we want you to be prepared.
FortisAlberta works closely with our electricity transmission partners to communicate with customers in the areas where we operate. When communicating before, during and after a Public Safety Power Shutoff, you may receive alerts from FortisAlberta. Please ensure that you update your contact information with your local retailer to receive updates.
For more information on Altalink’s PSPS, visit www.altalink.ca
We all play a role in preventing wildfires and fire-related power outages within our communities. Visit the Alberta Fire Bans website to view current fire bans, restrictions and advisories in your area.
For more tips on wildfire prevention and preparedness, visit the Alberta Government website and FireSmart Alberta.
Prepare for an Outage
There’s an app for that: Before an outage happens, download the Emergency Public Warning System mobile app.