As wildfire season approaches, ranchers in northern Alberta have already been thinking ahead about ways to protect their animals in case fires threaten their operations.
Gary Smith ranches near Fort Vermilion, 560 kilometers northwest of Edmonton. According to him, producers in the Mackenzie County region have already implemented an intervention plan.
We have an emergency response plan for agriculture, for livestock (horses, cows, pigs, etc.) We have a grazing reserve where we can house animals for evacuation purposes.
Rodeo grounds and agricultural societies could also help ranchers in the event of a fire, if necessary.
Breeders in the north of the province rely on proactivity, and for good reason. The last few years have been difficult for us
as Gary Smith points out. We have had fires. We have experienced flooding in our area.
The dry weather, due in particular to a winter and spring poor in snow and rain, created conditions conducive to forest fires.
Moreover, last week, the Alberta government announced a general ban on outdoor fires in all forest protection zones in the province, with the exception of the Calgary forest zone.
Coordination and mutual assistance, the key words
In addition to preparation, the breeders’ response plan also emphasizes coordination and mutual support, because, as Gary Smith notes, it is essential to know and cooperate with other producers in the area in the event of forest fires: You will need the people around you to survive such a situation.
I know a lot of the cattle ranchers in the area and if I need anything I’m not afraid to call them for a helping hand. And I expect them to do the same with me.
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Gary Smith ranches near Fort Vermilion, 560 kilometers northwest of Edmonton. He emphasizes that breeders in the region have already taken precautions given that the last few years have been difficult for them.
Photo: Radio-Canada / Dennis Kovtun/CBC
It’s important for producers to have wildfire plans and share them with their municipalities and neighbors, said Sonja Raven, agriculture manager for Grande Prairie County.
We suggest you start thinking about whether you will need to evacuate and what types of arrangements you will need to make
she said to breeders in the region.
Raven recommends preparing animals for transport, in case they need to be moved to another pasture: Get your pets used to being moved, get them used to being around people, if you can.
Kelly Burke, wildfire information officer for the Grande Prairie Forest Region, said it’s important to know the fire department’s contacts and know where to get information about wildfires. .
Producers may want to share with each other the types of animals they have, the types of medications the animals need and anything high-risk on their properties, she said.
With information from Dennis Kovtun
