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.


  • Get FireSmart Podcast

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    Did you know that there is a "Get FireSmart" Podcast? The Get FireSmart Podcast is a place to hear powerful stories and learn valuable lessons from FireSmart leaders across the world.

    These episodes will explore a range of topics, including practical tips around the home to the science behind wildfire prevention and mitigation. You can listen on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.

    Learn more here: https://firesmartbc.ca/introducing-the-get-firesmart-podcast/

  • FireSmart Home Tip: Rake Leaves & Debris

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    Regular yard maintenance and cleaning the corners of your home and yard will leave nothing for traveling embers to ignite. Remove flammable debris such as dry leaves, twigs, and branches.

    Adding a few FireSmart actions to your regular spring yard maintenance will reduce the wildfire risk for your home and property. Remember, changes made within 10 metres of your home will have the biggest impact!

  • FireSmart BC Landscaping Guide

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    Spring is almost here, and you may be starting your gardening and landscaping planning. Ensure your property is FireSmart by following the FireSmart BC Landscaping Guide.

    This guide includes an extensive list of fire-resistant plants, as well as practical, easy-to-implement tips on how to increase your home and property’s resiliency to wildfires.

    Check it out here: https://firesmartbc.ca/resource/landscaping-guide/

  • Sooke Fire Rescue Facebook

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    Did you know that we have a Sooke Fire Rescue Facebook page where we post weekly Sooke FireSmart updates? Join us on Facebook where you can also receive news of other Sooke Fire initiatives and stay informed.

    Check it out here: https://www.facebook.com/SookeFireRescue

  • Get Ready: BC Wildfires are Here to Stay

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    Don’t wait. Get ready. Changing weather patterns mean BC wildfires are here to stay. FireSmart practices can make structures, properties, and even entire neighbourhoods more resilient and likely to survive.

    Learn more here: https://firesmartbc.ca/changing-weather-patterns-mean-bc-wildfires-are-here-to-stay/

  • FireSmart Home Tip: Clean Gutters

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    The gutters on your home provide a place for combustible debris such as leaves and pine needles to accumulate. Embers and sparks can travel and easily ignite these materials. Regularly clean and remove all combustible debris from your gutters.

    Consider screening gutters with metal mesh to reduce the volume of debris that can accumulate. The homes that are prepared are the homes left standing. Check out www.firesmartbc.ca/homes for more tips on how to prepare your home for wildfire.

  • Wildfire Resilience Best Practice Checklist for Home Construction

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    FireSmart Canada has a great new resource for anyone planning on building or renovating a home. The Wildfire-resilience best-practice checklist for home construction, renovation and landscaping was created to encourage the use of wildfire resilience best practices and reduce the risk of property damage in wildland urban interface areas of Canada.

    You can find the checklist resource here: https://bit.ly/FSCconstruction

  • FireSmart Home Assessments

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    Did you know that Sooke Fire Rescue offers free FireSmart Home Assessments? You can invite a Local FireSmart Representative to visit your property to make FireSmart recommendations.

    An assessment can take approximately 30-60 minutes and you can learn valuable tips to improve safety around your home. Check out this local article to learn more: https://vancouverisland.ctvnews.ca/sooke-offering-free-assessments-to-help-residents-mitigate-wildfire-risk-1.5767982

  • FireSmart Information Sessions

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    Join Sooke FireSmart in an upcoming FireSmart Information Session this February or March. Learn about the threat of wildfire within our local community. Topics include wildfire risk and behaviour, the wildland interface zone, what is FireSmart, FireSmart principles, how to protect where you live (home and property) and how we all can increase community resiliency.


    Sign up now:     https://forms.office.com/r/1bmXjM1N4X

  • FireSmart Home Tip: Maintain/Upgrade Exterior

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    Are you planning home maintenance or renovations this upcoming Spring? Choose Fire-Resistant materials to help protect your home against wildfires.

    Siding materials such as stucco, metal siding, brick/concrete, and fiber cement all offer superior fire resistance. Tempered, thermal (double-paned) windows are recommended.

    Untreated wood and vinyl siding offer very little protection against wildfires and single-pane windows provide little resistance to heat from an advancing wildfire.

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