Albertas 2025 wildfire conditions substantially better than last year: minister [Video]

Muted wildfire activity is giving Alberta’s government optimism after last year’s grim start to the season, but experts say dry conditions could easily flip that narrative.

“We’re going into this season substantially better shape than we were last year,” Forestry Minister Todd Loewen told reporters in Edmonton Tuesday.

Last year’s bone-dry conditions led Alberta to declare its wildfire season 10 days before its normal March 1 start date.

There are seven active wildfires burning in Alberta, but they are contained. That’s compared with the more than 50 active wildfires that were burning last year in late February when the province triggered the early start to the season.

A dry winter and lingering multi-year drought conditions in the Rocky Mountains and northern Alberta mean it’s too soon to predict how the rest of the year will play out.

To date, the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains and northeastern Alberta have …