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.
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Protect your farm or ranch with FireSmart
Why FireSmart?
Developed through decades of research and proven in real wildfire conditions, FireSmart practices greatly reduce the risk of a structure catching fire during a wildfire.
Up to 90% of structures damaged by wildfires ignite because of embers, not flames! Embers can travel kilometres in the wind, landing on roofs, in gutters, wood piles, or getting into barns through vents and cracks.
FireSmart focuses on a structure and surrounding 30 metres—particularly the first 1.5 metres—to have the greatest impact on reducing the risk of catching fire.
Wildfires can move fast and there can be little or no time to act – FireSmart is proactive and doesn’t rely on last-minute defenses.
Help firefighters help you: A FireSmart structure and property is easier for firefighters to protect. Structures that are not FireSmart, especially those deemed a safety risk, are challenging to protect and may be prioritized lower than FireSmart properties for structure protection.
Rooftop sprinklers can be less effective in high fire danger weather conditions, such as strong winds, and water systems can fail – sprinklers are most effective when used in addition to FireSmart practices.
Get started with a free FireSmart BC Farm and Ranch Assessment
A Farm & Ranch Assessment is a great starting point for wildfire preparedness. This customized assessment identifies wildfire risks and provides practical, tailored recommendations to protect your property and operation.
See what BC producers have to say about the Farm & Ranch Assessment
What to expect:
- A trained assessor will visit your operation to look at your key structures and identify wildfire risks.
- Based on your priorities, they will recommend changes that will make the biggest difference in preventing structures from catching fire during a wildfire.
- Some recommendations will be simple and quick to do, while others will help plan for the long term.
About the process:
- The assessor will look at each critical farm structure and the immediate 30 metres surrounding the structure to determine risks and recommendations.
- The assessor will discuss the risks and recommendations with you to ensure recommendations are realistic and do-able, and answer any questions you may have.
- The assessor will email you a completed report after the assessment.
- Farm & ranch assessments only look at farm & ranch structures and do not include your home. If you’d like a free home assessment done at that time, please advise the Assessor in advance.
Notes for fire professionals:
- Only LFR, WMS, and FSC, who have completed the new FireSmartBC Farm & Ranch Training Course are approved to conduct Farm & Ranch Assessments.
- All FireSmart assessments are provided at no cost to the client, including Farm & Ranch Assessments.
Understand how wildfire can spread through a farm/ranch operation
Do you have a Wildfire Plan?
Get prepared to act fast during a wildfire using the Farm & Ranch Wildfire Preparedness
Guide & Workbook:
- 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
Learn the step-by-step process for completing an operations map, an important element of a wildfire plan.
Open burning practices for farmers and ranchers
Farmers and ranchers face special challenges when using open fire to clear grass and stubble, debris piles, and windrows.
- Learn about safe open burning practices for farms and ranches.
- Check for open fire prohibitions or restrictions in your area.
- Explore alternatives to open burning to protect your land and the environment.
Questions about the FireSmart BC Farm & Ranch Program?
Contact us at: support@firesmartbc.ca