Amazon opens first Canada disaster relief hub in Edmonton

Amazon has opened its first disaster relief hub in Canada, based in Edmonton and focused on wildfire response.

The company has dedicated part of an existing fulfilment centre in Alberta to store emergency supplies for communities affected by major disasters. The site is already operating and is expected to reach full capacity with more than 180,000 items.

The move expands Amazon's disaster response network in a country that has experienced some of its worst wildfire seasons on record in recent years. Canada's 2023 wildfire season was the most destructive on record, with 16.5 million hectares burned, nearly seven times the historical average.

Wildfire focus

The Edmonton hub will stock supplies for wildfire emergencies, including air purifiers, N95 masks, heavy-duty boots, gloves, respirators, helmets, goggles and sifters. It will also hold general relief goods for other disasters, such as floods and tornadoes, including cleaning equipment, diapers, wipes and strollers for displaced families.

Amazon will work with non-profit organisations including the Canadian Red Cross and Team Rubicon Canada to donate and distribute supplies within hours of a disaster. It is monitoring hundreds of active wildfires in Canada and related air quality issues and says it is prepared to respond to requests for assistance from its non-profit partners.

Eva Lorenz, Vice President and Country Manager at Amazon Canada, described the Edmonton operation as part of the company's broader community role.

"Amazon uses its global scale and strengths to make a positive impact in communities, and this hub is a powerful example of that," said Eva Lorenz, Vice President and Country Manager at Amazon Canada. "By dedicating a portion of an existing facility where we deliver for customers every day, we can also serve communities when disaster strikes, responding in hours, not days. Our team in Edmonton will keep the hub ready year-round, stocking specialised wildfire relief supplies, so first responders get what they need fast. We're proud to partner with the nonprofits doing this critical work, bringing Amazon's global disaster relief network to Canadian communities."

The wildfire focus reflects growing pressure on Canada's emergency systems as fire seasons start earlier and last longer. In recent years, responders, local communities and support groups have faced mounting strain from evacuations, smoke exposure and damaged homes.

Abe Diaz, Head of Disaster Relief at Amazon, linked the expansion to those conditions.

"Wildfire season in Canada is starting earlier, lasting longer, and becoming harder to contain. Wildfires don't wait-and neither do we," said Abe Diaz, Head of Disaster Relief at Amazon. "El Niño drives temperatures higher, drying out vegetation and turning landscapes into fuel. Wildfires surge dramatically during these cycles. Our expansion in Canada means we'll be prepared on both sides of the border to put resources in the hands of communities in hours, not days."

Local operations

The Edmonton site will be supported by fulfilment centre staff, who can spend part of their regular paid shifts receiving, sorting and organising relief supplies. When disasters occur, those workers can shift to full-time hub operations to prepare and ship urgent deliveries.

This gives Amazon a standing logistics base inside an active warehouse, rather than requiring a separate site. It also places relief stock in western Canada, close to areas that have repeatedly faced severe fire conditions.

Team Rubicon Canada said faster access to supplies could change the early stages of disaster response. Its crews often rely on rapid delivery of protective gear and cleanup materials once they arrive in affected communities.

"Disasters are increasing in complexity, intensity, and duration. We have entered a new normal in terms of Canada's response requirements, and our communities cannot wait for help to arrive. This hub is a game changer. It means that when our teams hit the ground, their supplies are right behind them-and that's the difference between responding in days to now being able to respond within hours," said Tim Kenney, Chief Operating Officer at Team Rubicon Canada.

The Canadian Red Cross also pointed to the broader need for preparedness as disasters become more frequent and disruptive across the country.

"The Canadian Red Cross recognizes the increasing need for disaster preparedness and is grateful to Amazon and all those who are investing in building response readiness and community resilience," said Melanie Soler, Vice President of Emergency Management at the Canadian Red Cross.

Global network

The Edmonton operation is Amazon's second facility dedicated specifically to wildfire relief. The first opened in California in 2024 and later expanded its storage to hold more masks, air purifiers and general relief stock. Amazon says that site supported response efforts during the Los Angeles wildfires in 2025.

Across its wider disaster relief programme, the company now runs 12 hubs in seven countries. Since 2017, it says it has donated and delivered more than 30 million relief items in response to more than 200 disasters.

At the Edmonton fulfilment centre, staff are being drawn directly into that effort.

"At YEG1, our team is known for our active community involvement, and helping the communities around us is at the heart of what drives us," said Osman Butt, Site Leader at Amazon's Edmonton fulfilment centre. "We are incredibly proud to be the home of Amazon's first disaster relief hub in Canada. Knowing that what we do here will help our neighbours across the country when they need it most-that's what makes this meaningful for everyone on the team."