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 Podcast

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    The Get FireSmart Podcast is a place to hear powerful stories and learn valuable lessons from FireSmart leaders across the world.

    From community leaders, fire fighting professionals to passionate homeowners there are so many stories to share and learn from!

    Listen today and start your FireSmart journey to reduce your wildfire risk. Learn more here: https://vimeo.com/545639422

  • Backyard Burning Season

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    Don't forget to check the Venting Index (scroll down to Coast Region and look at SRN VAN ISLD) before Backyard Burning. The Season is OPEN from Nov 1 – Apr 30. Venting must be GOOD on either the 7:00 AM OR 4:00 PM reading. A link to the Venting Index and Frequently Asked Questions can be found on the Burning page. Learn Before you Burn at www.sooke.ca/burning

  • Longer Wildfire Season

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    The wildfire season has continued into fall due to the dry conditions and above-average seasonal temperatures.

    There are currently 209 active wildfires in BC and 53 of those are within the Coastal Fire Centre. The fire danger rating and wildfire risk remains high in many communities.

    Learn more here: https://globalnews.ca/news/9189319/bc-wildfire-season-update-fall-drought/

  • Air Quality Advisory

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    An Air Quality Advisory has been issued for Vancouver Island due to the wildfire smoke. Local wildfire activity is expected to continue to create hazy conditions and smoke conditions over the next 48 hours.

    Learn more here: https://www.cheknews.ca/wildfire-smoke-blankets-skies-over-greater-victoria-1106482/

    Check out where wildfire smoke is traveling across BC: https://firesmoke.ca/

  • Coastal Fire Centre Update

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    There are currently 53 active wildfires within the Coastal Fire Centre. There has been an increase in activity from over the weekend with the majority of incidents suspected to be human caused. Human-caused wildfires are completely preventable and divert critical response resources away from other incidents.

    Stay informed about active wildfires that are close to home here: https://governmentofbc.maps.arcgis.com/.../f0ac328d88c74d...

    Building and maintaining protection around your home and property is an ongoing task throughout the year. Learn how to become FireSmart here: https://firesmartbc.ca/

  • Active Wildfire Gowlland Tod Provincial Park

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    There is an active wildfire in Gowlland Tod Provincial Park near Viart Road. Highlands and Langford Fire Rescue are responding along with BC Wildfire Service. Learn more about the current wildfire in the highlands here: https://www.cheknews.ca/highlands-fire-monitoring.../

    Summer weather conditions persist into the month of October meaning our wildfire risk remains high. Take time to learn how to best prepare for a wildfire event at https://firesmartbc.ca/

  • Know Your Resource: Homeowner's Manual

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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. Download the FireSmart BC Homeowner’s Manual and start today: https://homeowners-manual.firesmartbc.ca/

  • BC Wildfire Risk High

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    With the lack of rainfall for August and September, the fire danger rating and wildfire risk remains high in many communities. There are 44 active wildfires in the Coastal Fire Centre and a total of 168 across BC. With wildfire season far from over, it’s important to get FireSmart! Read more about the driest summers on record here: https://globalnews.ca/news/9140574/bc-dry-summer-2022-wildfire-risk/

  • Free Chipping Day Otter Point 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 Sunday, September 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/firesmart-drop-off-chipping-event/

  • Know Your Resource: Fire Smoke Forecast

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    Many coastal communities including Sooke has experienced smoky skies from wildfire events in the past few weeks.

    The BlueSky Canada smoke forecast provides a great estimate of when and where wildfire smoke events may occur.

    Check out https://firesmoke.ca/ to learn more about where wildfire smoke is traveling across BC.

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