Clearwater County’s West Country and communities such as Nordegg are vulnerable to wildfire. The wildfire risk was brought home last summer. In July and August 2024, two large wildfires burned for weeks and got within 25 kilometres and 50 kilometres of the Nordegg townsite before they were brought under control. To prepare for future wildfires the municipality applied for a grant from the Forest Resource Improvement Association of Alberta for a grant to help reduce the opportunities for wildfires to threaten homes and cabins in the growing community west of Rocky Mountain House. Last month, the municipality was approved for a $200,000 grant for vegetation and fuel management efforts. The money will be used to mulch about 70 acres of tree cones from the forest floor Nordegg’s north subdivision. …Alberta Minister of Forestry and Parks Todd Loewen has made it clear that communities vulnerable to wildfires need to step up efforts to reduce the risk.