The month of May marked two significant 9th anniversaries. The first was for the devastating wildfires that tore through Fort McMurray, Alta., where, over the course of two months, more than 88,000 people were forced to evacuate their homes, and over 2,400 homes and businesses were destroyed. Known as “The Beast”, this wildfire became Canada’s most costly natural disaster, burning nearly 1.5 million acres of land in Alberta and crossing into Saskatchewan. 

The impact of this disaster is still felt by many in the Fort McMurray region. The wildfires left behind not just physical damage, but also psychological scars. High incidents of post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, and depression have been reported years after the event. For some, the memory of the fire lingers in subtle ways: the smell of a campfire, for example, remains a trigger for some who lived through the disaster. Years later, those triggers can transport people back to that time of fear, displacement, and uncertainty. This underscores how deeply wildfires affect not just the landscape, but the very essence of a community and those in it. 

But from this devastating event came something powerful: the birth of Team Rubicon Canada, a veteran-led humanitarian organization. Volunteers, or Greyshirts, from Canada, the U.S., the UK, and Australia came together to provide crucial support to the community. Team Rubicon’s 80 volunteers helped train over 300 locals and assisted 900 homeowners in recovering personal belongings from their destroyed properties. Since then, Team Rubicon Canada has become a trusted organization, providing support before, during, and after disasters. 

 Fire mitigation in Fort McMurray

On this anniversary, Team Rubicon Canada again mobilized to support Fort McMurray communities at risk of wildfires. Through Operation Slow Burn, teams of Greyshirts worked in Wood Buffalo and the East Prairie Métis Settlement (EPMS) providing critical fire mitigation services. This collaborative effort, in partnership with FireSmart Alberta and with financial support from the Canadian Red Cross, is vital as these communities continue to face the threat of wildfires. 

The focus of this effort was to reduce wildfire risks by removing danger trees, managing vegetative fuel loads, and clearing debris from at-risk areas. These mitigation strategies are essential in preparing communities for future wildfire seasons and reducing the destructive potential of wildfires. 

“We’re no longer a community impacted by wildfire, we’re a community that lives with wildfire,” emphasized Chris Pottie, program manager at FireSmart Wood Buffalo. “Thinning the forest reduces the intensity of potential wildfires. As someone who lost their home to wildfire in 2016, I understand the importance of projects like these to make the community safer.” 

Over five weeks, more than 80 Greyshirts from across Canada worked alongside FireSmart Alberta to implement these fire mitigation strategies. “The build-up of combustible materials in the forest increases hazards over time,” added Pottie. “Clearing these materials before a wildfire strikes makes it more manageable, and safer for firefighting personnel to control.” 

This work was physically demanding and required careful planning and coordination. However, these efforts are critical in building resilience and ensuring that communities vulnerable to wildfires are prepared for the future. 

Operation Slow Burn was in support of the preventing wildfires and supporting communities in Fort McMurray.

 It is in our culture: built to serve

The wildfire mitigation projects in Alberta’s communities of Wood Buffalo and East Prairie Métis Settlement exemplify how volunteerism is at the heart of Team Rubicon Canada’s mission first culture. These Greyshirts, many of whom are veterans and first responders, not only brought specialized skills but also a deep commitment to serving others. Their role goes far beyond simply clearing trees or debris, it ensures that communities prepare, recover, and are more resilient. By stepping in before disaster strikes, these volunteers take proactive steps to reduce future risks, ensuring that wildfires’ impact doesn’t last indefinitely.  

 The scale of the work involved in Operation Slow Burn was complex, both logistically and operationally, especially considering the challenges Team Rubicon Canada faces in coordinating such large-scale projects while remaining responsive to other emergencies across the country. Team Rubicon Canada’s ability to adapt and tackle multiple operations at once, with military precision, expert skills, and a team of volunteers who have a passion for serving people and improving community resilience, is what makes it unique. 

 “Operation Slow Burn is crucial to reducing wildfire risks in these communities and others like it. But it’s also a testament to the complexity and scale of Team Rubicon Canada’s work, and the relationships we benefit from with organizations such as FireSmart Alberta and the Canadian Red Cross,” explained Tim Kenney, chief operating officer, Team Rubicon Canada. “Coordinating this fire mitigation project while maintaining our ability to respond to other disasters across the country highlights the depth of our capabilities, and commitment of our volunteers. This project is a true collaboration, requiring skill, experience, trust, and adaptability to meet the challenges of wildfire risk reduction.”  

  The work being done through Operation Slow Burn is just one example of the incredible impact that Team Rubicon Canada has on communities before, during, and after a disaster. But the work is far from over. As disasters and the risk of wildfires continue to grow in severity, as seen so far this summer, the need for trained volunteers has never been greater. 

Are you ready to make a difference? Step into the arena and become a Greyshirt and share your skills and passion to help communities in need.