Brian Cornforth News Today

The province says fire departments have completed six times as many FireSmart assessments this year compared to the same time last year.

Parkland County and Leduc County declared the bans after multiple grass fires broke out over the past few days.

Preparation is underway in communities across Alberta to prevent the kind of devastation last years wildfire season did, with all signs pointing to the coming season being just as disastrous.

Some municipalities and counties in Alberta have instituted firework bans and fire restrictions to decrease the risk of human-caused wildfires.

Record blazes have left crews struggling to contain aggressive burns, with a shortage of personnel making things worse

The early start to the wildfire season has proven how vulnerable properties in the path of a blaze can be, so 'fire smarting' your home can make a difference.

The early start to the wildfire season has proven how vulnerable properties in the path of a blaze can be, so ‘fire smarting’ your home can make a difference.

The early start to the wildfire season has proven how vulnerable properties in the path of a blaze can be, so ‘fire smarting’ your home can make a difference.

Peat, which researchers say has been drying out due to the changing climate, is contributing to how deep wildfires are getting and how long they could potentially smoulder.

More than 19,000 people were under evacuation orders throughout the province on Sunday and authorities say the situation remains dangerous