Muted wildfire activity is giving Alberta's government optimism after last year's grim start to the season, but experts say dry conditions could easily flip that narrative.

"We're going into this season in substantially better shape than we were last year," Forestry Minister Todd Loewen told reporters in Edmonton Tuesday.

Last year's bone-dry conditions led Alberta to declare its wildfire season 10 days before its normal March 1 start date.

There are seven active wildfires burning in Alberta, but …