Wildfire Safety

Fire prevention measures

AltaLink was the first utility in Canada to implement a wildfire mitigation plan in 2019. Our approach is based on a science-backed wildfire model created by external wildfire experts to identify higher risk fire areas in AltaLink’s service territory.

Our wildfire mitigation plan includes the following safety measures and system enhancements to reduce risk:

Enhanced vegetation clearing practices

Vegetation management is critical part of the work we do to protect communities while delivering safe and reliable power.

A tree making contact with a line can potentially cause a fire and lead to an interruption in power for entire communities. To minimize wildfire risk we need to remove the potential for trees to contact power lines.

Our enhanced vegetation management practices are focused on maintaining safe clearance distances around our power lines by: 

• performing vegetation inspections 
• tree trimming to manage overhang 
• removing trees within the right-of-way

We pay attention to trees that are an imminent risk of falling on the line or that are tall enough to potentially make contact with the line.

Keeping the right-of-way clear means keeping the lights on

Increased inspections

By proactively increasing our inspections in high-risk fire areas we can identify potential threats that need mitigating.

This includes:

• increasing inspection frequencies to twice a year (or more) on lines in high-risk fire areas
• accelerating the time to perform required asset updates to resolve concerns within 12 months

System strengthening

By proactively increasing our inspections in high-risk fire areas we can identify potential threats that need mitigating.

This includes:

• increasing inspection frequencies to twice a year (or more) on lines in high-risk fire areas
• accelerating the time to perform required asset updates to resolve concerns within 12 months

Situational awareness and preparedness

By proactively increasing our inspections in high-risk fire areas we can identify potential threats that need mitigating.

This includes:

• increasing inspection frequencies to twice a year (or more) on lines in high-risk fire areas
• accelerating the time to perform required asset updates to resolve concerns within 12 months

Public Safety Power Shutoff

During extreme and dangerous weather conditions that can result in a catastrophic wildfire, we may proactively shut off the power to our impacted transmission lines until conditions are safe to turn it back on. This will also de-energize the electricity distribution system connected to our lines in the area.

The Public Safety Power Shutoff is intended as a last resort preventative measure to ensure public safety. While it is impossible to predict how future fire seasons will play out, we do not expect Public Safety Power Shutoffs to be a common occurrence.

Conditions that could trigger a Public Safety Power Shutoff 

Each situation is unique – no single factor drives a Public Safety Power Shutoff. We monitor a range of factors before executing a Public Safety Power Shutoff:

What you can expect

Wildfire conditions can change rapidly. While there is no set timeline for Public Safety Power Shutoffs, we’re committed to providing information in the timeliest manner possible.

• Advanced warning: Whenever possible, we will provide advance notice of a Public Safety Power Shutoff. Although worsening conditions may require swift action, our goal is to alert you as early as possible before an outage.
• Continued updates: As conditions change on the ground, we will keep you informed before, during and after a Public Safety Power Shutoff. Updates will be delivered via a range of channels and through coordination with local emergency organizations.
• Safety inspection: Once the extreme weather conditions have passed, crews will inspect affected power lines and equipment for damage and debris before restoring power.
• Power restoration: We will restore your power as quickly as we safely can.

We will use all communication channels available to us to notify customers and community stakeholders. This includes outbound calls, social media updates, media advisories, website banners and alerts.

AltaLink works closely with our electricity distribution partners to communicate with customers in the areas where we operate. When communicating before, during and after a Public Safety Power Shutoff, you may receive alerts from FortisAlberta. Please ensure that you update your contact information with your local utility to receive updates.

For more information and to sign up for alerts, please visit Public Safety Power Shut-Off (fortisalberta.com) or call 310-WIRE.

High-risk fire areas

Using a science-backed wildfire model created by external wildfire experts, we are able to identify higher risk fire areas in AltaLink’s service territory.

The Bow Valley, Crowsnest Pass and Cadomin have been identified as high-risk areas for a potential Public Safety Power Shutoff.

Triggers for a Public Safety Power Shutoff

The triggers for a Public Safety Power Shutoff are if the Fire Weather Index (FWI) and wind speeds exceed a certain threshold.

Area	FWI	Wind speed	Maps of potentially impacted areas
Bow Valley	60	70 km/h
Cadomin	60	60 km/h
Crowsnest Pass	60	80 km/h