University of Waterloo’s Intact Centre and FireSmart™ Alberta Launch Nationally Adaptable Tool

THUNDER BAY – CLIMATE NEWS – A new wildfire preparedness tool developed in response to increasingly destructive wildfire seasons in Alberta could soon help municipalities across Canada, including those in Northwestern Ontario, assess and improve their ability to withstand wildfire threats.

The Intact Centre on Climate Adaptation at the University of Waterloo, in partnership with FireSmart™ Alberta, has unveiled the FireSmart™ Scorecard, featured in a new report titled “From Risk to Readiness: Enhancing Alberta’s Wildfire Preparedness Through the FireSmart™ Scorecard.” The tool evaluates 10 core areas of community preparedness — from emergency planning and vegetation management to responder training and public education — offering communities a comprehensive way to measure their wildfire readiness and pinpoint vulnerabilities.

With 2023 and 2024 setting records for wildfire damage in Alberta — including over 1,000 wildfires, mass evacuations, and tens of thousands displaced — the Scorecard couldn’t come at a more urgent time. Early wildfires this year in Alberta, Manitoba, and Newfoundland suggest another volatile season is underway, raising alarm bells nationwide.

A Tool With National Impact

Dr. Anabela Bonada, managing director of climate science at the Intact Centre, says the tool allows communities to shift from reactionary to proactive disaster planning:

“There used to be no way for municipalities to measure this specific wildfire risk. Now they can identify strengths, pinpoint gaps, and focus investments where it counts.”

Ten pilot communities tested the Scorecard across Alberta in 2024. While the average score landed at a “B”, results varied widely — with some municipalities excelling and others failing in key areas. Strong points included emergency planning and responder training, but challenges like underfunding, limited staff, and confusing jurisdictional authority hindered consistent preparedness.

“Wildfire doesn’t wait for us to catch up,” said Dr. Blair Feltmate, head of the Intact Centre. “As fires grow in scale and complexity, resilience must be a national imperative — not an afterthought.”

Key Recommendations from the Report

The Scorecard’s authors call for urgent action, including:

• Streamlined provincial funding to help communities access wildfire preparedness resources.

• Legislative changes to give municipalities authority to enforce fire-resilient construction.

• Public education tools to help homeowners take simple, effective fire-prevention steps.

• Zoning guidance for municipal planners and engineers in areas bordering wildlands.

For Northern Ontario communities like Thunder Bay, which are no strangers to summer fire threats, a standardized tool like this could help prioritize action and funding. The region is increasingly vulnerable to extreme fire weather, making early planning and risk mitigation essential.

“Alberta has taken the lead,” Bonada added, “but this is a model the entire country can learn from. Now is the time to scale these efforts across provinces before the next catastrophic season.”

A Path Forward

With climate change intensifying fire seasons, the FireSmart™ Scorecard offers municipalities a scalable, data-informed path toward greater resilience. Local governments, emergency planners, and community leaders across Canada are encouraged to adopt the Scorecard and access its full benefits — now available at the Intact Centre’s website.