Wildfire won’t wait for you to make a plan.

BC is currently in the midst of the worst wildfire season in history, with more than 1.8 million hectares of land lost to the fires burning across the province. Regardless of the fire danger rating of your community, we have the information and resources you need to take action and get prepared.

Make A Plan

Follow evacuation alerts and orders

Knowing what to do in case of an evacuation alert or evacuation order could save your life, and possibly your property. An evacuation alert means you need to be ready to leave at a moment’s notice. Use the The FireSmart BC Emergency Wildfire Preparedness Checklist to make sure you’re ready before or during an alert. An evacuation order means the time to prepare is over. YOU NEED TO LEAVE IMMEDIATELY. During this level of emergency, your local evacuation centre should be your first point of contact.

Current Alerts and Orders

Get prepared for wildfire

Prepare yourself and your family

Some of the most important ways you can prepare yourself or your family for an emergency evacuation are simple—and they’re all in the Wildfire Preparedness Guide by Prepared BC. Things like setting up a family communication plan in case you get separated, preparing grab-and-go bags for everyone in your household, and knowing your evacuation routes are just a few ways to make sure you’re ready. Download the Wildfire Preparedness Guide now and make a plan.

Download Guide

Prepare your pets

In an emergency, your furry, feathery, finned, or scaly friends will be relying on you. So have a pet plan in place with pet-friendly contacts who can host or help you in case you need to evacuate. Prepare a grab-and-go pet bag with a leash, food and water for up to a week, health and vaccination information—everything you’ll need to ensure they’re safe and healthy away from home. For more tips and resources, download the Prepared BC Prepare For Your Pets Guide.

Download Pet Guide

Prepare your property

There’s a lot you can do before an evacuation is ordered to protect your home, farmland, or ranch from wildfire. Moving fuel sources like firewood and lawn furniture away from your house, trimming branches near your roof, and cutting your lawn shorter are just a few quick chores you can do—before you’re in a wildfire emergency—that may save your property. For farmers and ranchers, download resources here. For all other residents, our FireSmart Begins at Home Guide is an essential tool for mitigating the threats of fire.

View Guide
Fire Danger Rating

Fire Danger Rating map updated daily. Courtesy of BC Wildfire Services

Know your fire danger rating

There are five colour-coded fire danger ratings (FDR). The FDR British Columbia map is updated daily to highlight which areas are currently in an extreme, high, moderate, low, or very low fire danger area. Check the map to see your community’s status, and make sure you know how and where to reach your local evacuation centre.

Not sure what it means and what you can or should do in a certain rating? Click the FDR tabs below to get informed and prepared.

Extreme

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What does an extreme fire danger rating mean?

Surrounding forests are dry and contain fuels that make the fire danger extremely high. Fires can start easily, spread rapidly, and may be challenging to contain. Forest activities will most likely be restricted, like campfires and industrial work.

What should I do?

You should be prepared for an evacuation alert and potential evacuation orders at all times. Use your FireSmart Last-Minute Checklist, prepare your grab-and-go bags, plan your routes, choose your emergency contacts, and have your local evacuation centre’s contact information on hand. You should also do what you can to ensure your property is FireSmart. But, most importantly, check back here regularly for updates on evacuation alerts and orders.

High

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What does a high fire danger rating mean?

Forest fuels are dry and the fire risk are increasingly serious. New fires may start easily, burn quickly, and challenge fire suppression efforts. Extreme caution should be used for any forest activities, such as open burning and industrial activities that involve tools with gas-powered engines. Click here for a list of high-risk activities.

What should I do?

Just like extreme fire danger areas, you should be prepared for wildfire at any time. Use your FireSmart Last-Minute Checklist, prepare your grab-and-go bags, plan your routes and contacts, use the Begins at Home Guide to prepare your home and property, and check evacuation alerts and orders regularly.

Moderate

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What does a moderate fire danger rating mean?

Forest fuels are drying and there is an increased risk of surface fires starting. Carry out any forest activities with caution.

What should I do?

This is a great time to focus on FireSmart activities. You may be at a lower fire danger than extreme or high, but that doesn’t mean you should be complacent. Conditions can change quickly, so it’s important to create an emergency plan, prepare your home and property, and check back here for emerging wildfire incidents.

Low

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What does a low fire danger rating mean?

Fires may start easily and spread quickly, but there will be minimal involvement of deeper fuel layers or larger fuels.

What should I do?

The fire danger may be low, but fire is still possible. Use this time to FireSmart your property, using our Begins at Home Guide and our Landscaping Hub. And remember to check back here in case conditions change.

Very Low

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What does very low fire danger rating mean?

The amount of dry forest fuels are limited and are at a low risk of catching fire.

What should I do?

This is obviously an ideal place to be, but it’s always good to be prepared for conditions to change by ensuring your house and property are ready for higher fire danger ratings. This is a perfect time to contact a Local FireSmart Representative or Wildfire Mitigation Specialist to help you mitigate the risks of wildfire around your home before they become a far more significant hazard.

Now’s the time to get FireSmart.

Whether the fire danger rating is extreme or low, the stakes are always high if you’re not prepared. Following evacuation alerts and orders and getting ready before a wildfire disaster strikes can make a world of difference. So make a plan, keep your property FireSmart, and stay up to date on the latest evacuation alerts and orders this wildfire season.

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FireSmart BC Begins At Home Guide

This guide provides easy steps to make your property FireSmart, so you can reduce the potential impacts of wildfire on your home, neighbourhood, and community.

See the guide
FireSmart BC Begins At Home Guide

Looking for FireSmart tips? Check out these 11 quick tips on the FireSmart Your Home Infographic

Get prepared today with these other key resources

The Home Partners Program

The FireSmart Home Partners Program was designed to engage homeowners in voluntary wildfire mitigation activities by offering a professional home assessment with property-specific recommendations.

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FireSmart BC Home Assessment Overview

This video shows a typical FireSmart Home Assessment and walks through practical advice to make your home and property more resilient to the risk of wildfire.

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FireSmart Home Ignition Zone

Learn about the 3 home ignition zones around your property by downloading this resource. Work with your neighbours in any overlapping priority zones!

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