The provincial government is requesting Hinton and other communities in Alberta undertake more wildfire mitigation work in the wake of the Jasper wildfire last summer. Forestry and Parks Minister Todd Loewen sent Hinton Mayor Nicholas Nissen a letter outlining the actions the province would like to see taken, including establishing larger fireguards around the community. “While I am pleased that many communities have applied for fireguard funding, I have concerns that the proposals are not broad enough to reduce the negative impacts of a Jasper-like wildfire event,” Loewen wrote. Surrounded by coniferous trees, Hinton is situated in a wildfire-prone region that has seen multiple blazes over the past few years, including the Jasper wildfire and the 2023 fire that forced Edson to evacuate. “The Forest Resource Improvement Association of Alberta (FRIAA) Fireguard Program is intended for large-scale mitigation work,” Loewen wrote.