The provincial government says increased use of technology is making the process of detecting and fighting forest fires more effective.
This movement to technology has included putting video cameras in 42 wildfire detection towers.
This has also resulted in putting 28 environment employees who used to observe fires from these towers out of work.
Environment Minister Scott Moe led a press on a tour to display the new fire detection technology at the Prince Albert Wildfire Centre on Thursday morning.
He says the move to increased technology is all about providing the best information to those detecting fires and fighting them on the ground.
“The decision I think is maybe bigger than replacing employees with technology,” he says. “As you saw today, the wind system that is operating up there provides more information and has the ability to provide more information as we are able to add cameras to the system and what not as we move forward. And really what that’s about is providing the very best information that we can.”
Wildfire Management Branch Executive Director Steve Roberts adds the new technology expands what the provincial government can do in terms forest fire monitoring and at a lower cost.
“The opportunities we have with the new technology, for instance, in the new camera section is we have huge opportunities for expansion,” he says. “We will be able, for instance, to expand a new detection site for the cost of a camera, about $20,000 to $30,000, instead of building a new tower to put a person in which might have cost us $200,000.”
The province has invested about $1.5 million in technology to enhance forest fire detection services.