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.


  • Wildfire Season Starts

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    There is no better time to learn about the wildfire risk here in our community and how to prepare. The season has already started, and conditions can change very quickly.

    Evacuations in Alberta and communities on alert in BC already because of spring wildfires that are threatening homes and properties. Learn more about what’s happened in the past few days here: https://vancouversun.com/news/local-news/bc-wildfires-out-of-control-fires-put-central-communities-on-evacuation-alert

  • Wildfire Preparedness Day 2023

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    Wildfire Preparedness Day is on Saturday, May 6th. The 2023 wildfire season has already started and there is no better time to get informed and take action to help protect your home and property.

    Located in John Philips Memorial Park (2201 Otter Point Road) from 10:00 AM-2:00 PM. Learn how to become FireSmart and reduce your wildfire risk.

    Grab some FireSmart resources and play a FireSmart game. Book a free FireSmart Home Assessment for a chance to win some FireSmart prizes!

  • Seven FireSmart Home Tips

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    With warmer weather in the forecast, it’s the perfect time to get outside and start FireSmarting your home and property! Focus on the intermediate zone (0 to 1.5 meters around your home) and than work your way outwards to the intermediate and extended zones.

    Reduce your property’s risk today by checking out these easy and simple home tips here: https://firesmartbc.ca/7-tips-to-firesmart-your.../...

  • FireSmart at Sookarama

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    Join the Sooke Emergency and FireSmart program at Sookarama today at the Seaparc Arena (2168 Phillips Road) from 10:00-4:00 pm.

    Learn more about how to prepare for an emergency event including wildfires for the upcoming summer. Free admission and lots of chances to win prizes!

    More details about the event here: https://sooke.ca/events/event/sookarama-2023/

  • Community Clean Up

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    The Broom Busting Blitz and Community Clean-Up has already started at Broom Hill Park (2280 Pyrite Drive)!

    Join us today until 2:00 pm to remove invasive species, reduce our community's fire risk and pick-up garbage. No experience needed so come make a difference in your backyard.

    Learn more here: https://sooke.ca/broom-busting-blitz-and-community-clean.../

  • Community Clean-Up

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    A reminder that the Broom Busting Blitz and Community Clean-Up is taking place tomorrow at Broom Hill Park (2280 Pyrite Drive) at 10:00 am.

    Scotch Broom is highly flammable due to natural oils and resins in the plant. Residents are invited to join this community event to remove the invasive species and reduce our fire risk at the same time!

    Learn more about the community clean up here: https://sooke.ca/broom-busting-blitz-and-community-clean-up-scheduled-for-april-21st/

  • 2023 Wildfire Season Outlook

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    Communities on Vancouver Island including Sooke experienced drought conditions last summer and fall. Fires may burn deeper and for longer periods in areas where drought conditions have persisted. This means greater fire suppression efforts may be needed to extinguish spring burns this year.

    Advance planning is essential when it comes to being prepared for the upcoming wildfire season. Learn more about how you can build protection around your home and property by visiting: https://firesmartbc.ca/

    Learn more about the upcoming 2023 wildfire season outlook here: https://blog.gov.bc.ca/bcwildfire/april-2023-spring-wildfire-outlook/

  • Free Info Session Tonight

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    Don’t miss the free FireSmart Information Session at the VI Regional Library Sooke tonight starting at 7:00 PM.

    Learn more about how you can help increase our community resiliency to wildfire. Topics include Sooke’s wildfire risk, the wildland urban interface zone, FireSmart principles, and how to protect your home and community.

    For more info visit: https://virl.bc.ca/event/get-firesmart-sooke-information-session/

  • Community Clean Up

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    Did you know that Scotch broom is highly flammable and can pose a significant fire risk? Working to remove the species can have a big impact on mitigating our wildfire risk in this community.

    Residents are invited to join a community clean up and broom-busting blitz at Broom Hill Park (2280 Pyrite Drive) on Friday, April 21st from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm! Equipment and complimentary refreshments will be provided.

    Learn more about the community clean up here: https://sooke.ca/broom-busting-blitz-and-community-clean-up-scheduled-for-april-21st/

  • New Fire Starts!

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    The upcoming wildfire season is going to be here sooner than you think! Take time this spring, to best prepare your home and property from wildfire.

    Removing combustible debris and following FireSmart principles will significantly reduce your wildfire risk and help keep our community safe.

    Learn more about the new fire starts last week in the southern interior: https://globalnews.ca/news/9587647/19-fires-sparked-southern-interior-march/

    Be prepared and get FireSmart today! Learn more by contacting Sooke Fire Rescue or visit:     https://letstalk.sooke.ca/firesmart

Page last updated: 21 Nov 2023, 03:46 PM