Supporting Community Resilience: Cokel’s Role in the Town of Hinton’s FireSmartTM Project

As wildfire seasons grow longer and more intense across Alberta, communities like the Town of Hinton are taking proactive steps to reduce risk and build resilience. At Cokel, we are proud to be working alongside the Town of Hinton to lead FireSmartTM initiatives that bring expert wildfire solutions directly into the heart of the community.

With over 70 years of combined experience in wildfire management, Cokel is uniquely equipped to help municipalities assess risk, develop mitigation strategies, and implement practical, on-the-ground solutions. In Hinton, this means delivering a comprehensive suite of FireSmartTM services designed to reduce fuel loads, protect infrastructure, and educate the public on fire-safe practices.

In August 2024, Cokel Forestry was contracted by the Town of Hinton to develop a Wildfire Preparedness Guide, design a new fireguard, enhance the existing fireguard built in 2009, and create a 10-Year Wildfire Mitigation Strategy. These efforts are part of a long-term vision to safeguard the town and its surrounding forested areas from the increasing threat of wildfires.

A key component of this strategy is the fireguard—an essential FireSmartTM feature in communities at risk. Fireguards provide suppression crews with safe, defensible zones to combat approaching wildfires, while also preventing fires from spreading into the town or out into nearby wildlands. Through our spring mulching program, the Hinton fireguard has been revitalized, enhancing its effectiveness just in time for the 2025 fire season.

The FireSmartTM Project in the Town of Hinton showcases the power of public-private collaboration. When municipal leadership joins forces with industry experts like Cokel, the results are more impactful, efficient, and sustainable. The town provides direction and community backing, while we bring agility, technical capacity, and field expertise to execute timely, effective solutions.

At Cokel, we’re proud to bring our specialized knowledge to this important work. Together with the Town of Hinton, we’re not just protecting landscapes—we’re helping safeguard the lives, homes, and livelihoods of the people who live there.

To learn more about our wildfire management services or how we can support your community’s FireSmartTM initiatives, visit our Wildfire Services page.