The Canadian Red Cross is committed to supporting communities impacted by the 2023 Alberta Wildfires, both in their recovery from the event and in increasing resilience to future events.
The Canadian Red Cross recognizes that mitigation measures can be powerful tools for protecting against future events. The Residential Mitigation Incentive program provides financial incentives for people living in eligible areas who are interested in undertaking mitigative actions to make their homes more resilient to future wildfires and extreme heat events.
Residential Maintenance
Eligible applicants may receive up to $1,500 for the Residential Maintenance activities listed below. These are simple tasks that most people can take on themselves or with some extra help. They will help reduce the risk of wildfire spread around your home.
Residential Maintenance Activities:
- Roof maintenance/repairs
- Repair windows and/or exterior doors, including caulking and weatherstripping
- Repair cracks, gaps, and holes in exterior cladding/siding
- Remove leaves and debris from eavestroughs
- Remove plants and materials that are within 0 - 1.5 metres from the home
- Remove plants and materials that can catch fire from under decks
- Prune coniferous/evergreen trees up to 2 metres from the ground
Residential Mitigation
Eligible applicants who are interested in taking on a more impactful mitigation project may be eligible to receive up to an additional $1,500 in reimbursement for expenses related to any of the Residential Mitigation activities listed below.
These are tasks that will require a bit more planning and more time to complete. They will help reduce the risk of wildfire and extreme heat to your home. You may need help from a contractor or a professional to ensure these projects are done properly.
To be eligible for reimbursement, you will need to provide the Red Cross with photos of before and after the work was completed, as well as receipts/invoices for the work completed. Note that activities completed before November 10, 2023, are not eligible for reimbursement.
Residential Mitigation Activities:
- Replace existing roofing with Class A fire rated roofing materials
- Replace combustible siding materials with fire or ignition-resistant materials
- Install or replace deck materials with fire rated materials
- Replace exterior doors with ones that are fire rated and thermally insulated
- Replace furnace or air conditioner with a heat pump
- Install portable air conditioner units – ideal for tenants
- Install whole home air conditioning unit
- Replace single-pane windows with multi-pane windows
- Install window film/tint
- Replace ceiling light fixtures with ceiling fans
- Install insulated / blackout curtains or blinds - heat resistant
- Install exterior roll shutters or awnings with fire or ignition-resistant material
- Install double glazed windows - Low E glazing
Note: If your home incurred major damage or was destroyed, you will be able to access funding for mitigation activities through
personalized recovery supports.
Eligibility Criteria
The Residential Mitigation Incentive program is available to those who:
- Are residents of Alberta with a primary residence that is in a community that was under evacuation order or alert during the 2023 Alberta Wildfires
- Are a homeowner, a tenant, or live in a community-owned home
- Have a primary residence that was not damaged or incurred minor damage due to the 2023 Alberta Wildfires
Please note: If your home was destroyed or incurred major damage as a result of the wildfires, you will be able to access
personalized recovery support through a Red Cross case manager. Please let us know if you are interested in this service in the application form.
Application period
Applications will be accepted between November 10, 2023, and February 29, 2024.
Apply Now
Applications will be reviewed as they are received. Please note that there are limited funds available for this program. Eligible residents are encouraged to apply as soon as possible. Should there be additional funding available the Red Cross may offer similar programs.
If you have questions about the Residential Mitigation Incentive Program or need assistance registering, please contact us at
ABRecoverysupport@redcross.ca or by calling us at
1-833-966-4225 from Monday to Friday between 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. MT.
How the program works
- Register. Interested residents can register with the Canadian Red Cross for this program online. After you register, you will be asked to complete a short application form.
- Review. Your information will be reviewed, and we will reach out with any questions.
- Notification. We will tell you if your application is approved and what your next steps are depending on which activities you have selected.
For those who have incurred major damage or whose homes are destroyed (uninhabitable), the Red Cross can provide personalized recovery support. The Red Cross case management team will work directly with people impacted to discuss their unique needs and help them navigate their recovery journey and access available support. This may include support for planning their return home, understanding insurance and community resources, and providing referrals and information to help people make decisions and inform their next steps.
In addition to the personalized recovery support to plan for and navigate recovery, eligible households may receive financial support to help meet their needs.
Eligibility Criteria
Personalized recovery support is available to those who:
- Are residents of Alberta and have a primary residence that is in a community that was under evacuation order or alert during the 2023 Alberta Wildfires
- Are a homeowner, are a tenant or live in a community-owned home
- Have a primary residence that incurred major damage (damage that endangers the home or makes it unsafe to live in) or was destroyed by the 2023 Alberta Wildfires
To access this support, we ask that you
register online and complete the application form. Where it asks if you would like to receive personalized recovery support, please answer “yes” so that we can reach out to you and set up an appointment with a case manager.
If you have questions about personalized recovery support or need assistance registering, please contact us at
ABRecoverysupport@redcross.ca or by calling
1-833-966-4225 from Monday to Friday between 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. MT.