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.


  • FireSmart Resources Available

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    Homeowners play an important role in wildfire prevention; they can directly reduce the wildfire risk and damage to their property by using FireSmart principles. There are so many resources available! Check out www.firesmartbc.ca/homes for more tips on how to prepare.

  • FireSmart Home Tip: Assess Your Roof

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    The roof is the most vulnerable component of your home. Sparks and embers can travel up to 2 km ahead of a wildfire and ignite combustible materials on or near your home. Keep up with roof maintenance, clean often and keep free of leaves and woody debris.

    The most fire-resistant roofing materials are metal, asphalt shingles, concrete, and clay roof tiles. Up to 90% of homes with non-combustible roofs and 10 metres of clearance will survive a major wildfire.

  • FireSmart Rural Tips

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    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 wildfires within the Wildland Urban Interface zone. And overtime, FireSmart principles have shown to be effective at reducing the risk related to losses in the most extreme wildfire conditions.

    Learn these simple tips to start FireSmarting your home and property: https://firesmartbc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/22.08.22_FSBC_RuralHomeInfographic.pdf

  • 2022 Wildfire Season Review

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    The 2022 fire season was characterized by above average lightning-caused fires and below average human-caused fires, resulting in the province experiencing one of the lowest human-caused wildfire seasons since 1950.

    Here on the coast, lightning storms and drought conditions are becoming more common during the summer months which impacts both fire behaviour and response operations.

    Looking at past wildfire seasons can help us better prepare for the next one. Read more here: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/bc-2022-wildfire-season-wrap-1.6679875

  • Home Development Guide

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    Are you planning home maintenance or renovations this upcoming Spring? Make sure to follow the Home Development Guide to select fire-resistant materials to give your home and property the best chance of survival in a wildfire or neighbouring structure fire.

    Fire can easily transfer from structure to structure in higher density neighbourhoods or areas. The potential for damage increases when flammable building materials are being used. Always choose fire-resistant materials to help protect your home against fire.

    Check out the Home Development Guide here: https://firesmartcanada.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/FireSmart_Canada_Home_Development_Guide.pdf

  • Living With Wildfire

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    Most homes destroyed during a wildfire event are from embers, and surface fires that have not yet reached the crown of the trees.

    Once ignited, homes burn at a greater intensity than wildland fuels and cast shorter ranged embers throughout a community. No longer influenced by the original wildfire, this urban fire can continue to burn through residential fuels.

    Take a moment to watch this structure ignition problem explained under two minutes: https://vimeo.com/568667023?embedded=true&source=video_title&owner=62406912

  • Era of Megafires

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    How wildfires shaped our natural landscape in the past is an important step to understanding what the best management practices are of today.

    We are now experiencing longer wildfire seasons with larger, hotter, and greater intensity fires. Historically a rare occurrence, megafires are now becoming more prevalent in the West.

    Learn more about how our natural landscape has changed over the last 100 years here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=edDZNkm8Mas

  • Three Cost-Effective Steps

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    Is preparing for the 2023 wildfire season part of your goals this year? If not, it should be! Take time this year to follow FireSmart principles and create a FireSmart home. Keeping a property FireSmart involves some easy-to-do and cost-effective practices.

    Learn more about what should be maintained at least twice a year and what some simple upgrades are here: https://www.intactcentreclimateadaptation.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/IntactCentre_3-steps-to-a-cost-effective-FireSmart-Home.pdf

  • 2022 Wildfire Season Summary

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    As our team moves into the new year, we are reflecting on our most recent wildfire season. The Coast had a total of 281 wildfires and was right behind the Kamloops Fire Centre in total hectares burned at 21,779.

    With sustained warm and dry weather throughout the fall, the season got extended well into September and October. New records were set for the months of August and October for the number of fires detected per week compared to the past 20 years.

    Take a moment to read the full 2022 Wildfire Season Summary here: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/.../wildfi.../wildfire-season-summary

  • Vancouver Island Level 3 Drought

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    Although we are experiencing cooler and wetter conditions, the amount of rainfall this past November has been well below average. All of Vancouver Island remains at a level 3 drought.

    The amount of winter precipitation and snowpack influences our wildfire season. There are currently 11 holdover fires on Vancouver Island. These fires are underground and will most likely continue to smolder over winter.

    Read more: https://www.cheknews.ca/november-rainfall-far-below-average-levels-as-dry-2022-continues-1118792/

    Learn more about how to prepare your home and property for next year at: https://firesmartbc.ca/

Page last updated: 22 Apr 2024, 03:08 PM