Press Release
March 7, 2025
TOWN OF FOX CREEK PREPARED FOR 2025 WILDFIRE SEASON WITH ENHANCED PRECAUTIONS AND COMMUNITY EFFORTS
Fox Creek, Alberta – As the 2025 wildfire season begins, the Town of Fox Creek is prioritizing safety and proactive measures to safeguard our community. Following the unprecedented evacuation of Fox Creek in 2023 due to wildfire threats, we remain vigilant and committed to minimizing the risks posed by wildfires.
This year, the Town of Fox Creek is aligning with the Province of Alberta’s comprehensive strategy to prevent, mitigate, and respond to wildfire threats. The Province has committed to a three-pronged approach that emphasizes prevention, mitigation, and readiness. With over $160 million invested in wildfire personnel, equipment, and technology, Alberta has strengthened its capacity to respond to wildfire incidents and reduce the impact of such events on communities.
Fox Creek, a community surrounded by forests and natural beauty, is particularly susceptible to wildfire risks. We are fully committed to the safety of our residents, and as such, are working closely with provincial and local wildfire teams to implement key safety measures:
1. Wildfire Prevention: Preventing wildfires before they start is crucial. We are reinforcing public awareness campaigns to promote safe outdoor practices, with an emphasis on following fire bans and restrictions. Local residents and visitors are encouraged to remain vigilant, adhere to fire bans, and practice the “soak it, stir it, soak it again” method to ensure campfires are fully extinguished.
2. Mitigation Measures: The Town is actively involved in the Community Fireguard and FireSmart programs. Through these initiatives, we are working to create firebreaks, conduct controlled burns, and remove excess vegetation that could fuel wildfires. In collaboration with the Forest Resource Improvement Association of Alberta (FRIAA), we are investing in wildfire mitigation projects aimed at safeguarding vulnerable areas within our community.
3. Response Readiness: Fox Creek is prepared with enhanced firefighting resources and emergency plans. This includes the training of local personnel, ensuring access to specialized equipment, and collaborating with the Alberta Emergency Management Agency (AEMA) to strengthen emergency preparedness.
“We are more prepared than ever before to face the challenges of the 2025 wildfire season. After the events of 2023, we have worked tirelessly to improve our wildfire readiness, and we are grateful for the continued support from the Province of Alberta. Together, we will work to keep Fox Creek safe.
This year, we are excited to introduce an innovative new initiative: our Mycological Research Project. Through this project, we are exploring the use of mushrooms to help reduce wildfire risks by decomposing dead, diseased, and wildfire-affected trees. Mushrooms naturally promote water retention in the forest floor, which helps lock in moisture, keeping the forest more resilient to drying. This unique method will not only help to mitigate the threat of wildfires but will also enhance the overall health of our local forest ecosystems.”
— Sheila Gilmour, Mayor of Fox Creek
For more information, please contact:
Kristen Milne
Chief Administrative Officer Town of Fox Creek
102 Kaybob Drive, PO Box 149,
Fox Creek, AB T0H 1P0
(P) 780-622-3896
(E) info@foxcreek.ca
Download the Press Release here.