Alberta is adding Wildland firefighters to the list of responders eligible for the Alberta Heros’ Fund.

Since 2020, the Alberta Heros’ Fund has provided $100,000 to the families of first responders whose lives are lost in the line of duty. With this change, Heroes’ Fund payments now extend to workers who fight, suppress, or extinguish a wildfire, such as firefighters on the ground and helicopter and water bomber crews.

“I’m proud that we’re expanding the province’s Heroes’ Fund to include our wildland firefighters,” said Todd Loewen, Minister of Forestry and Parks.

“Albertans owe a debt of gratitude to the brave men and women who work tirelessly throughout the wildfire season to protect our communities and forests.”

The fund is also available to families of structural firefighters employed by a municipality or Metis Settlement, police officers, sheriffs, provincial correctional officers and paramedics.

Since its establishment, 58 families have received Heroes’ Fund payments, of which 84 per cent were structural firefighters.