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.


  • Know Your Resource: Preparedness Guide

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    Take time right now to learn how to prepare your household and understand what to do if a wildfire is in the Sooke community.

    Remember to make an emergency plan, build your grab-and-go bags, know your insurance coverage, protect your property by becoming FireSmart, and always follow instructions when an emergency bulletin is issued from the District of Sooke.

    Review the Wildfire Preparedness Guide here: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/public-safety-and-emergency-services/emergency-preparedness-response-recovery/embc/preparedbc/preparedbc-guides/wildfire_preparedness_guide.pdf

  • Largest Wildfire Recorded in BC

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    The Donnie Creek wildfire is located between Fort Nelson and Fort St. John and is now considered to be the largest wildfire ever recorded in BC.

    With more than one million hectares burned since April 2023, this BC wildfire season is on track to break even more records. Learn more here: https://o.canada.com/news/local-news/how-big-bc-largest-wildfire-donnie-creek

    The wildfire risk has increased in recent years due to hotter and drier summer conditions. It’s important that you take time to get ready for one now! Learn more on how to get prepared here: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/safety/emergency-management/preparedbc/know-your-hazards/wildfires

  • Extreme Fire Danger Rating

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    The Fire Danger Rating is now EXTREME for the District of Sooke. Forest fuels are dry, and the fire risk is very serious. New fires will start easily, spread rapidly, and challenge fire suppression efforts.

    During extreme fire rating conditions, and in adherence with the Wildfire Act, high risk activities are now prohibited until the fire rating downgrades to high for at least three consecutive days. Learn more here: https://sooke.ca/fire-danger-rating-updated-to-extreme-high-risk-activities-prohibited-2/

    A campfire prohibition remains in effect for the District of Sooke and will remain in place until the fall or until the order is rescinded.

  • Fire Safety for Over the Long Weekend

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    Canada Day is quickly approaching, and we urge residents to prioritize fire safety over the long weekend. The Fire Danger Rating remains HIGH and fires can start easily, burn quickly, and challenge fire suppression efforts.

    We want to remind the community that fireworks are strictly prohibited. Fireworks are a common activity this time of year within the region, but an unnecessary risk.

    A campfire prohibition remains in effect for the District of Sooke. This includes fireworks, sky lanterns, binary exploding targets, burn barrels, tiki torches, and chimineas.

    Outdoor stoves are still allowed if the stove is CSA or ULC rated that burns charcoal briquettes, liquid fuel, or gaseous fuel and has a flame height that is less than 15 cm tall.

    Wishing a safe and happy Canada Day to all those celebrating in our community!

    Learn more here: https://sooke.ca/sooke-fire-rescue-urges-fire-safety-for-canada-day-weekend/

  • Know Your Resource: BC Wildfire Dashboard

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    There are currently 16 wildfires within the Coastal Fire Centre. View the location and status of all active wildfires in BC with the BC Wildfire Dashboard. Understanding the stage of control is important as this is how wildfires are displayed on the map.

    An out-of-control wildfire is not responding to fire suppression action and is not contained.

    When a wildfire is being held, sufficient suppression action has been taken with the resources currently committed to the fire. It is not likely to spread beyond existing or predetermined boundaries under prevailing and forecasted conditions.

    A wildfire is declared under control once the fire has received sufficient suppression action to ensure no further spread of fire.

    A wildfire is considered out only when the fire has been completely extinguished.

    Check-out the BC Wildfire Dashboard here: https://wildfiresituation.nrs.gov.bc.ca/map

  • Sooke Night Market

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    Join Sooke FireSmart at the Sooke Region Museum Grounds for the Night Market tonight from 5:00-8:00 pm. Learn how to be prepared, get FireSmart and stay informed!

    Ask all your wildfire questions! What can I do right now to reduce my fire risk around my home? What are the benefits of a FireSmart Home Assessment? How do I stay informed about emergency events?


  • Steps to Reduce Wildfire Risk

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    The Coastal Fire Centre has experienced 68 fires so far this year. Of those, 37 have been on Vancouver Island. Our region has not received much rainfall and has already burned 15 times more hectares than our 10-year average.

    Here are a few steps you can take today to reduce your wildfire risk for your home and property at little to no cost:

    ✅ Keep roof clear of all combustible debris, remove branches, leaves and moss.

    ✅ Cut all grasses on the property to 10 cm or less.

    ✅ Prune branches within 2 m from the ground.

    ✅ Remove flammable fine fuels such as dry leaves and branches surrounding the home.

    ✅ Select drought tolerant and FireSmart plants.

    ✅ Relocate propane, firewood, and other large fuel sources 10-30 m from the home.

    To learn more visit: https://firesmartbc.ca/

  • Final Broom Drop-Off

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    This Saturday is the final free broom drop-off event of the year! Make sure to bring the last of your cut broom to the Parks Yard at 2070 Kaltasin Road on June 17th from 1:00 to 4:00 pm.

    We have already started the chipping process, but all the broom will be chipped, and composted. It will be contained in isolated garden beds to ensure all seeds have effectively broken down and the seed won’t propagate.

    Thank you to everyone for participating in this initiative and for not only removing this invasive species but significantly reducing our community's fire risk.

  • Know Your Resource: Drive BC

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    Are you traveling this summer? Know about current travel disruptions and road closures due to wildfire. Identify alternative routes as changing conditions can impact fire behaviour quickly.

    Do not visit communities that have issued evacuation orders and/or alerts. Avoid driving through areas with active fires. Always drive cautiously and do not stop in an area where there is active fire behaviour.

    If you see a wildfire while driving, report it to the BC Wildfire Reporting line at 1-800-663-5555 or *5555 on a cellphone.

    For current information on road conditions visit: https://www.drivebc.ca/


  • Wildfire Near Port Alberni

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    The BC wildfire season has already been setting records as warm conditions continue. June has just started, and this wildfire season has already seen more land burned than last year. It’s important to be prepared, get FireSmart and stay informed.

    Vancouver Island has seen multiple wildfire events with the latest wildfire being out-of-control near Port Alberni which has now grown to 20 hectares. Learn more here: https://vancouverisland.ctvnews.ca/wildfire-burning-out...

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