Farm and Ranch Wildfire Preparedness

Agriculture faces unique challenges from wildfire. Farmers, ranchers, First Nations and governments can all take simple steps to prepare ahead of time.

Farm & Ranch FireSmart Assessment

Reduce the impacts of wildfire on your agriculture business.

This assessment is used by Wildfire Mitigation Specialists & Local FireSmart Representatives, who have received Farm & Ranch FireSmart training, to assess the risk from wildfire to your operation’s critical structures. Using the assessment, they will be able to recommend changes that will make the greatest difference in defending against structure ignition.

Here is an example Farm & Ranch FireSmart Assessment Report for a ranch in British Columbia.

Download Example

About the process

A Farm & Ranch FireSmart Assessment provides:

  • An in-depth, on-site assessment conducted by experienced fire professionals.
  • An opportunity for farms and ranches to identify mitigation actions unique to their property.
  • A detailed follow-up report with customized mitigation actions designed to measurably reduce the wildfire risk to your property.

A person in a uniform holding a notebook and talking to an older woman outdoors

How does it work?

A trained Farm and Ranch FireSmart Professional will come to the farm/ranch property to conduct the assessment. The assessment is based on current FireSmart accepted practices. The following areas are assessed for each critical building and structure:

  • Building or critical farm structures (utility poles, valve stations, propane tanks, etc.)
  • Immediate Zone (0-1.5m from structure)
  • Intermediate Zone (1.5-10m from structure)
  • Extended Zone (10-30m from structure)

The Farm and Ranch FireSmart Professional will answer questions and will email a copy of the completed report to the farmer/rancher.

Assessments are currently not available

Farm and Ranch FireSmart Assessments were piloted and delivered by the B.C. Ministry of Agriculture and Food’s Extreme Weather Preparedness for Agriculture Program for three years (2022 – 2024). Farm and Ranch FireSmart Assessments are not currently available.

If you are an LFR, WMS, or FireSmart Coordinator with questions about the Farm and Ranch Assessment you can email: support@firesmartbc.ca

What’s your Wildfire Plan?

The best defence is preparation.

Get prepared with a customized Wildfire Plan using the Farm & Ranch Wildfire Preparedness Guide & Workbook.

A completed Wildfire Plan helps farms and ranches:

  • prepare to take effective action during wildfire
  • communicate the plan to family, farm workers, and neighbours
  • share information with those involved in wildfire response before or during a wildfire.

Download the Farm/Ranch Wildfire Plan Guide and Workbook.

Open Burning Practices for Farmers and Ranchers

Farmers and ranchers face special challenges when using open burns to clear grass and stubble, debris piles and windrows.

Learn more

More Resources

Watch:
The Farm/Ranch Wildfire Plan Guide and Workbook
Watch:
Creating Your Operations Map

Learn the step-by-step process for completing an operations map, an important element of a wildfire plan.

Watch:
Wildfire mitigation for the farm and ranch

Understand how wildfire can spread through a farm/ranch operation and learn simple, practical steps for mitigating this risk.