Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) Officer

Government of Alberta; Alberta; On-site; CAD 70,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

The Government of Alberta is seeking a WUI Officer to support municipal and private fire services in WUI operations. This role involves program development, incident response, hazard mitigation, and public education to enhance community preparedness and safety.

Responsibilities

• Support development and improvement of WUI capabilities across Alberta.
• Evaluate and enhance local emergency plans.
• Support province-wide resource tracking for WUI incidents.

Job description

Reporting to the Manager, Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) Operations and Training, the WUI Officer works closely with the Forest Operations Branch (FOB) and is responsible for providing support and guidance to municipal and private fire services in all matters related to WUI operations, preparedness, training, and the provincial WUI program. The WUI Officer serves as the primary liaison between AEMA, the FOB, and WUI program partners, including municipal fire departments, First Nation communities, Metis Settlements, private contractors, and industry, ensuring seamless coordination and integration of WUI operations at the provincial level.

Responsibilities include:

1. Preparedness and Program Development - Support the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of WUI capabilities across Alberta, ensuring alignment with provincial policies, codes, and standards.
2. Communities Pre-Activities - Support the evaluation and enhancement of local emergency plans, ensuring they meet legislative requirements and provincial best practices.
3. Activation, Incident Response, and Deployment - Support province-wide resource tracking for WUI incidents and ensure the readiness of structural fire resources for deployment.
4. Hazard Mitigation - Provide expert recommendations on modifications to provincial codes and standards to address evolving WUI challenges.
5. Communities Post-Activities - Support the collection and evaluation of response activities as part of post-incident assessments.
6. Public Education and Community Engagement - Collaborate with FireSmart Alberta to design and implement comprehensive public education programs focused on reducing WUI-related hazards.