Highway 40 West FireSmart Project

Beginning in 2021, the County of Grande Prairie assessed wildfire risks on public and Crown lands located west of Highway 40, south of the City of Grande Prairie limits, also known as the Highway 40 West area. This area is Priority Area 3 identified in the County’s Wildfire Mitigation Strategy. The project was supported by FireSmart™ grant funds and included planning for future vegetation management in the area, providing opportunities for FireSmart™ education, and engaging with nearby residents and other groups. The questions and input from residents and organizations at that time informed the final project plan and is summarized in the Final Report (see Key Documents on this page).

In 2023, the County moved forward with vegetation management and fuel reduction work. The previous planning and engagement project, as well as the vegetation management work, is part of the County's Wildfire Mitigation Strategy. The aim of this Strategy is to lower the risk of wildfire or – in the case of a wildfire – reduce the risks of loss of life and damage to infrastructure.

The first project area was originally 23 hectares of public land. The Dunes West wildfire interrupted project operations for several weeks and construction of a fire guard on the southern boundary reduced the treatment area. The final debris cleanup on the site occurred in 2024, with a total treatment area of 19.09 hectares.

In 2025, the County will continue with fuel reduction in this area with a further 111.84 hectares being assessed for treatment. A variety of treatment methods will be used, including building a small fire break, selective harvesting of timber, and thinning and pruning.