Sooke FireSmart Program

Share Sooke FireSmart Program on Facebook Share Sooke FireSmart Program on Twitter Share Sooke FireSmart Program on Linkedin Email Sooke FireSmart Program link

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.


  • 2022 Wildfire Season Summary

    Share 2022 Wildfire Season Summary on Facebook Share 2022 Wildfire Season Summary on Twitter Share 2022 Wildfire Season Summary on Linkedin Email 2022 Wildfire Season Summary link

    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

    Share Vancouver Island Level 3 Drought on Facebook Share Vancouver Island Level 3 Drought on Twitter Share Vancouver Island Level 3 Drought on Linkedin Email Vancouver Island Level 3 Drought link

    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/

  • Wildfire Smoke Health Risk

    Share Wildfire Smoke Health Risk on Facebook Share Wildfire Smoke Health Risk on Twitter Share Wildfire Smoke Health Risk on Linkedin Email Wildfire Smoke Health Risk link

    Last summer, wildfires caused widespread smoke and poor air quality across the province. The coastal region was responsible for several incidences of smoky skies as local wildfires grew in Hope, Manning Park, Vancouver Island and Washington.

    Impacts from climate change continue to pose a significant health risk to all British Columbians. Read more here: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/climate-change-poses-health-risks-in-bc-1.6654027

  • FireSmart Podcast

    Share FireSmart Podcast on Facebook Share FireSmart Podcast on Twitter Share FireSmart Podcast on Linkedin Email FireSmart Podcast link

    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

    Share Backyard Burning Season on Facebook Share Backyard Burning Season on Twitter Share Backyard Burning Season on Linkedin Email Backyard Burning Season link

    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

    Share Longer Wildfire Season on Facebook Share Longer Wildfire Season on Twitter Share Longer Wildfire Season on Linkedin Email Longer Wildfire Season link

    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

    Share Air Quality Advisory on Facebook Share Air Quality Advisory on Twitter Share Air Quality Advisory on Linkedin Email Air Quality Advisory link

    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

    Share Coastal Fire Centre Update on Facebook Share Coastal Fire Centre Update on Twitter Share Coastal Fire Centre Update on Linkedin Email Coastal Fire Centre Update link

    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

    Share Active Wildfire Gowlland Tod Provincial Park on Facebook Share Active Wildfire Gowlland Tod Provincial Park on Twitter Share Active Wildfire Gowlland Tod Provincial Park on Linkedin Email Active Wildfire Gowlland Tod Provincial Park link

    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

    Share Know Your Resource: Homeowner's Manual on Facebook Share Know Your Resource: Homeowner's Manual on Twitter Share Know Your Resource: Homeowner's Manual on Linkedin Email Know Your Resource: Homeowner's Manual link

    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/

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