Improved fire management policies and practices are on the way, thanks to an innovative partnership announced Tuesday.

The federal and provincial governments, along with the University of Alberta, have formed the Western Partnership for Wildland Fire Science.

Director Dr. Mike Flannigan, a research scientist, said 8,000 fires burn 2 million hectares of land each year in Canada.

“Fires are a real concern for many of the communities that are located in the forest,” he said. “We need to have a better understanding of fires so that we can protect the communities and their economic interests.”

Partnership priorities include education, science, scientific applications and communications, and partnerships and collaboration.