Fire chiefs in southern Alberta are raising alarms about the heightened risk of wildfires due to ongoing dry conditions. This week, several municipalities, including Foothills and Cyprus counties, have implemented fire restrictions, while Lethbridge County and Vulcan County have enacted fire bans.

Patrick Neumann, fire chief for the Town of Pincher Creek and the surrounding municipal district, expressed concerns on Friday, stating that 2025 could be a particularly active fire year in southwestern Alberta. "Especially in the southwest corner of the province, we’ve got very, very little rain since the beginning of April probably," he noted. He added that some areas south of Highway 3 have received slightly more precipitation.

As of Friday, the region transitioned from a fire advisory to a fire restriction due to worsening conditions. Neumann emphasized, "Until we start seeing some rain, things aren’t going to improve." The forecast for Pincher Creek predicts a high of 30 degrees Celsius on Saturday, with only a 30 percent chance of rain on Sunday night and Monday. No precipitation is expected from Tuesday to Thursday.

In preparation for the fire season, Neumann mentioned that firefighters have recently completed wildland fire training and are working to recruit additional members. "We’re putting some more equipment on the road this year that we haven’t previously had in light of the conditions that we’ve seen over the last three or four years. We’re doing the best we can in the conditions," he said.

Cyprus County Fire Chief Jason Linton echoed the urgency of the situation, stating that the area requires significant rainfall to mitigate the fire hazard and support crop growth. "It is alarming, and we are concerned and we are monitoring it daily," he said. He noted that conditions are deteriorating, especially in the northern part of the county, where dry weather is exacerbated by high winds and extreme heat, with temperatures expected to reach 33 degrees Celsius.

Linton assured that Cyprus County firefighters are prepared to combat any wildfires. "We’ve had a couple small, man-made fires we were able to jump on real fast," he reported. When Foothills County announced a fire restriction on Thursday, it classified the alert level as "high," citing increasing fire danger due to current and forecasted temperatures and wind speeds. Despite some areas experiencing green-up and occasional rain, Foothills County warned of flammable, dead, and dry vegetation still present.

As of Friday, Alberta reported seven wildfires of note, with evacuation orders rising in the northern part of the province due to uncontrolled fires. A total of 52 wildfires were burning across Alberta, with 29 classified as out of control. Experts predict an active wildfire season ahead, fueled by a below-average snowpack and forecasts indicating a warmer, drier summer. The Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre has placed Canada at the highest level, 5, on the National Preparedness Levels chart. Meanwhile, Manitoba and Saskatchewan have declared states of emergency as wildfires continue to threaten northern communities, forcing thousands to evacuate.