Sooke FireSmart Program

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British Columbia has experienced unprecedented wildfire seasons in recent years. The changing climate, higher temperatures and drought conditions are all leading causes of aggressive fire behaviour and longer wildfire seasons. Living in a fire-prone ecosystem means we must implement wildfire mitigation strategies to reduce our wildfire risk and protect our community.

Fires on the coast can be vigorous especially in steep/difficult terrain and/or in drought-stricken areas. Lightning storms and water shortages are becoming more common during the summer months and impact both fire behaviour and response operations on the coast.

Preparing for the threat of wildfire is a shared responsibility from homeowners, to businesses to government. We all have the responsibility to reduce our risk and increase our wildfire resiliency.

What is the Risk? The Wildfire Risk Framework used in BC supports initiatives related to wildfire risk reduction. The largest threat to Sooke is wildfire as our community is currently classified in the highest risk category.

This framework measures risk and considers the likelihood of a wildfire event, community consequences, and impacts to high-value resources and assets. By identifying these risk levels, we can prioritize mitigation efforts and increase community resiliency to wildfire.

What is the Structure Ignition Problem? Many homeowners falsely assume there is no wildfire threat to their home and property if not directly on the forest’s edge or in contact with flames. Embers and burning debris can easily travel up to two kilometers ahead of a wildfire and ignite materials on or near your home. This can cause severe damage or total home loss.

Most homes destroyed during a wildfire event are from embers, and surface fires that have not yet reached the crown of the trees. Once homes or adjacent materials begin burning, these residential fuels burn at a higher intensity. The fire will then continue to spread rapidly throughout the community igniting multiple structures simultaneously through direct flame, radiant heat, and casting of shorter ranged embers. No longer influenced by the original wildfire, this urban fire will continue to burn residential fuels and flammable materials.

What is FireSmart? Being FireSmart is about living and co-existing with wildfires because it’s not a matter of if, but when. It’s a tool designed to reduce the likelihood of large uncontrollable, high intensity wildfires within the Wildland Urban Interface.

Recent science and studies have shown that overtime, FireSmart principles can significantly reduce the risk related to losses in the most extreme wildfire conditions. Laboratory testing, physical modeling and recent wildfire events have increased our understanding of structural ignitions and fire behaviour such as radiant heat transfer and the flammability of different building materials.


British Columbia has experienced unprecedented wildfire seasons in recent years. The changing climate, higher temperatures and drought conditions are all leading causes of aggressive fire behaviour and longer wildfire seasons. Living in a fire-prone ecosystem means we must implement wildfire mitigation strategies to reduce our wildfire risk and protect our community.

Fires on the coast can be vigorous especially in steep/difficult terrain and/or in drought-stricken areas. Lightning storms and water shortages are becoming more common during the summer months and impact both fire behaviour and response operations on the coast.

Preparing for the threat of wildfire is a shared responsibility from homeowners, to businesses to government. We all have the responsibility to reduce our risk and increase our wildfire resiliency.

What is the Risk? The Wildfire Risk Framework used in BC supports initiatives related to wildfire risk reduction. The largest threat to Sooke is wildfire as our community is currently classified in the highest risk category.

This framework measures risk and considers the likelihood of a wildfire event, community consequences, and impacts to high-value resources and assets. By identifying these risk levels, we can prioritize mitigation efforts and increase community resiliency to wildfire.

What is the Structure Ignition Problem? Many homeowners falsely assume there is no wildfire threat to their home and property if not directly on the forest’s edge or in contact with flames. Embers and burning debris can easily travel up to two kilometers ahead of a wildfire and ignite materials on or near your home. This can cause severe damage or total home loss.

Most homes destroyed during a wildfire event are from embers, and surface fires that have not yet reached the crown of the trees. Once homes or adjacent materials begin burning, these residential fuels burn at a higher intensity. The fire will then continue to spread rapidly throughout the community igniting multiple structures simultaneously through direct flame, radiant heat, and casting of shorter ranged embers. No longer influenced by the original wildfire, this urban fire will continue to burn residential fuels and flammable materials.

What is FireSmart? Being FireSmart is about living and co-existing with wildfires because it’s not a matter of if, but when. It’s a tool designed to reduce the likelihood of large uncontrollable, high intensity wildfires within the Wildland Urban Interface.

Recent science and studies have shown that overtime, FireSmart principles can significantly reduce the risk related to losses in the most extreme wildfire conditions. Laboratory testing, physical modeling and recent wildfire events have increased our understanding of structural ignitions and fire behaviour such as radiant heat transfer and the flammability of different building materials.


  • Free FireSmart Chipping Event

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    Free FireSmart Chipping Event!

    Regular yard maintenance is essential to having a FireSmart home and property. Clearing and chipping branches and shrubs will help reduce your wildfire risk.

    In collaboration with Otter Point Fire Department and the CRD, Sooke residents are welcome to bring their branches and shrub trimmings to Camp Barnard at 3202 Young Lake Road this Saturday, June 25th from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM.

    ONLY tree branches, small woody shrubs and windfall branches will be accepted at this event and must be between 2.5 cm (1 inch) to 17 cm (7 inches) in size.

    Learn more about this event here: https://otterpointfire.bc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/CRD-FireSmart-Wood-Chipping-Poster-June-25-1-1.pdf

  • Wildfire Terminology

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    Being FireSmart is not only about being prepared but staying informed! It’s important that we are familiar with wildfire terminology used such as the Fire Danger Rating.

    The Fire Danger Rating can help predict wildfire ignitions, and behaviour such as spread and intensity. The danger class is based off many weather variables including temperature, relative humidity, wind speeds, and precipitation.

    Learn more about some of the most common terms here: https://www.theweathernetwork.com/ca/news/article/wildfire-terms-canadians-should-be-familiar-with-this-summer

  • Monthly FireSmart Update

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    Join our Sooke FireSmart Group to help build our community resilience to wildfire. Sign up online and subscribe to “FireSmart” to receive program updates including project initiatives, upcoming events, and the latest resources.

    Don’t miss out and sign up now: https://sooke.ca/online-services/subscribe-to-e-newsletters/

  • Why Prescribed Fire?

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    Prescribed fire is the planned and controlled application of fire to a specific land area and is one of the most ecologically appropriate and relatively efficient means for achieving a variety of land management objectives. This is a tool to maintain the health and safety of our forests, and communities. It’s important to understand why we use prescribed fire here in BC.

    Learn more here: https://vimeo.com/708338114

  • FireSmart Across Canada

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    FireSmart is truly coast to coast! Although the Canadian landscape is diverse, the threat of wildfire is present across the country.

    Homeowners across Canada are taking action and becoming FireSmart to reduce the wildfire risk in their community. Learn how here: https://vimeo.com/556284538

    Start your FireSmart journey today by visiting https://firesmartbc.ca/

  • Free Broom Drop Off

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    Free Broom Drop Off Today!

    Did you know that Scotch broom is highly flammable and can pose a fire hazard? Sooke FireSmart and the Parks Department have worked together to offer free broom drop offs for Sooke residents.

    Bring your cut broom to the drop off station at the District of Sooke Parks Yard at 2070 Kaltasin Road today from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM.

    Learn more here: https://sooke.ca/free-broom-drop-off-available-for-sooke.../

  • How Do Wildfires Spread?

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    How do wildfires spread? There are three different ways wildfires can approach our community and your home.

    Embers or firebrands are the burning debris that can be cast up to 2 km ahead of a wildfire by wind or energy from a fire. Embers can ignite materials on or near your home, causing severe damage or total home loss.

    Extreme heat from a wildfire can melt vinyl siding, ignite you home and even break windows. Extreme heat can come from flames within 30 metres of your home.

    As wildfires spread toward homes, they ignite other flammable objects in their path. Breaks in this path, especially to your home can help reduce this threat.

  • FireSmart BC Landscaping Hub

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    Apart from selecting the right fire-resistant plant for your yard, keeping a property FireSmart involves some easy-to-do and cost-effective landscaping practices.

    Check out the new FireSmart BC Landscaping Hub where you will find which fire-resistant plants are best suited for our area, landscaping tips and more on the Plant Program.

    Explore the FireSmart BC Landscaping Hub here: https://firesmartbc.ca/landscaping-hub/

  • Sooke Wildfire Community Preparedness Day

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    Join Sooke FireSmart at the Country Market today from 10:00 AM-2:00 PM for Sooke Wildfire Preparedness Day! Pick up some resources, play a FireSmart game and book a free FireSmart Home Assessment!

    All Sooke residents who book a free FireSmart Home Assessment by July 2, 2022, will have a chance to WIN these FireSmart prizes! There will be three lucky winners! One will win a WASP Wildfire Protection Kit and the other two winners will receive Garden Kits that will help create and maintain a FireSmart yard.

    Book an assessment today to enter: https://calendly.com/sooke/firesmart?month=2022-05

  • Sooke Wildfire Community Preparedness Day

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    Join Sooke Wildfire Preparedness Day this Saturday, May 28, 2022! Located at the Sooke Country Market near the municipal hall from 10:00 AM-2:00 PM. Learn how to become FireSmart and reduce your risk from wildfire.

    Preparing for the threat of wildfire is a shared responsibility. From homeowners to businesses to government - we all have the responsibility to reduce the impacts of wildfire within our community. It’s time to get FireSmart about wildfires in BC: https://vimeo.com/314570685

    Learn more here: https://sooke.ca/events/event/sooke-wildfire-community-preparedness-day/

Page last updated: 03 Jul 2024, 04:24 PM