Release: Wildfires pose growing threat to regional and national economic stability

Calgary Chamber releases recommendations to mitigate wildfire risk and strengthen economic resilience

Calgary, AB, June 18, 2026 – Wildfires across Canada have become an increasingly significant threat to public safety and the environment, with the past three wildfire seasons ranking among the 10 worst on record. The 2023 season saw approximately 17.3 million hectares burned nationally – nearly seven times the historical average – while the 2025 wildfire season was the second worst on record, with more than 8.3 million hectares burned across nearly every province and territory.

Beyond the environmental and safety impacts, wildfires are increasingly threatening economic stability and the infrastructure that underpins Canada’s prosperity. In May 2023, Alberta wildfires forced operators to shut in at least 319,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day, representing approximately 3.7 per cent of Canada’s total oil production. As wildfire activity intensifies, disruptions to critical industries, supply chains and essential infrastructure are becoming more frequent and costly.

“Recent wildfire seasons have demonstrated that wildfire risk is no longer solely an environmental or emergency management issue,” says Deborah Yedlin, President & CEO at the Calgary Chamber of Commerce. “Wildfires disrupt electricity transmission, telecommunications networks, transportation corridors and energy infrastructure, delaying projects, interrupting business operations and restricting the movement of goods and creating effects felt across Alberta’s economy and national supply chains.”

Governments have begun to respond to this growing challenge through initiatives such as the Alberta Wildfire Mitigation Strategy. However, gaps remain. The Calgary Chamber’s new report, Building a Wildfire-Resilient Alberta Economy, examines the risks wildfires pose to regional and national economic stability and outlines recommendations for provincial and federal governments to better mitigate wildfire impacts and strengthen economic resilience.

“Albertans have witnessed firsthand the devastating environmental, social and economic impacts of major wildfires – from Fort McMurray in 2016 to Jasper in 2024,” adds Yedlin. “Without continued action, wildfires will continue to pose a serious threat to Alberta and Canada’s economic stability, infrastructure reliability and investment competitiveness.”

Recommendations

• Strengthening critical infrastructure resilience through improved planning, coordination and operational preparedness. 
• Expanding prevention and mitigation efforts through hazardous fuels management, prescribed and cultural burning, FireSmart initiatives and landscape-level planning. 
• Improving governance, coordination and information sharing among governments, regulators, municipalities, emergency management organizations and industry. 
• Accelerating technology adoption and innovation to support predictive modelling, risk assessment, situational awareness and operational decision-making. 

Quick Facts

• The past three wildfire seasons have ranked among the 10 worst on record:
  • The 2023 season was the worst season on record, with approximately 17.3 million hectares burned nationally – nearly seven times the historical average.
    • Around 232,000 Canadians evacuated their communities in the wake of 282 wildfires, including 43,000 Albertans.
    • Alberta wildfires in May 2023 forced operators to shut in at least 319,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day, representing approximately 3.7 per cent of Canada’s total oil production.
  • The 2024 Jasper wildfire destroyed roughly one-third of the town’s structures and became one of the costliest natural disasters in Canadian history, with insured damages estimated at $1.23 billion.
  • The 2025 wildfire season was the second worst on record, with more than 8.3 million hectares burned across nearly every province and territory.
• Approximately 80 per cent of majority-Indigenous communities are located within fire-prone regions, while more than 42 per cent of wildfire evacuations in Canada have occurred within majority-Indigenous communities.

– 30 –

About the Calgary Chamber of Commerce

The Calgary Chamber exists to empower our business community to advance a prosperous Calgary and Canada. As the convenor and catalyst for a vibrant, inclusive and prosperous business community, the Chamber works to build strength and resilience among its members and position Calgary as a magnet for talent, diversification and opportunity. As an independent, non-profit, non-partisan organization founded in 1891, we build on our history to serve and advocate for businesses of all sizes, in all sectors across the city.

Media opportunities

For media inquiries, please contact: [email protected]