Province Selects Hinton for Community Hazardous Fuels Reduction Program

The Town of Hinton has been selected as one of 32 Alberta communities to take part in the Community Hazardous Fuels Reduction Program (CHFRP), a provincial initiative aimed at reducing wildfire risk around high-risk communities.

The program, announced by the Government of Alberta, focuses on removing hazardous forest fuels within five kilometres of communities most exposed to wildfire risks. This program aims to make communities safer by reducing the amount of flammable vegetation, such as trees and brush, close to town. In Hinton, this means that areas of mature spruce and pine forest within a five-kilometre radius of the town boundary on public lands will be targeted for vegetation removal or treatment to help lower wildfire intensity and improve firefighting effectiveness.

“Being chosen for this program is an important step for our Community,” said Mayor Nissen. “Wildfire remains one of the greatest risks facing Hinton, so we are looking forward to working with the Province and local forest area staff to carry out this important work”.

The CHFRP builds on existing wildfire mitigation efforts such as FireSmart™ initiatives and community fireguard projects. The Town continues to advocate for additional fire protection measures, including clearing the highway bypass corridor right-of-way south of town to serve as a permanent fireguard.

Hinton residents will see visible changes to the surrounding landscape over the coming years as hazardous fuels are reduced. This work will involve removing some coniferous forest materials, which in turn helps promote new growth of deciduous trees and forest floor vegetation. While it may take time to adjust to these changes, the work is necessary to strengthen community protection and resilience in the face of longer and more intense wildfire seasons.

To help residents learn more about the program, West Fraser is hosting a Public Open House on Wednesday, October 8, 2025, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Hinton Centre. Local Forest Area staff will be there to share updates and gather feedback on how to best implement this work in our area.

For more information on the Community Hazardous Fuels Reduction Program, visit https://www.alberta.ca/community-hazardous-fuels-reduction-program