Living where wildfires can occur puts our homes at risk, but it is possible to live safely and resiliently with wildfire. The choices we make about our homes and properties – out to 100 metres from the foundation – can greatly reduce vulnerability to wildfire.
Flames and radiant heat can break the glass in a window and allow fire to enter the interior of a home. Gaps at the top, bottom and edges of exterior doors (front door, garage door, etc.) can allow embers to enter and ignite combustible materials within the home and garage.
Some types of siding materials, such as vinyl, can melt when exposed to high temperatures, allowing the fire to reach the underlying wall components and penetrate the interior of the building.
The roof is the most vulnerable component of your home. Sparks and burning embers from a wildfire can travel long distances and quickly ignite flammable roofing material and/or combustible debris on the roof.
The gutters on your home provide a place for combustible debris to accumulate, and open eaves create an entry point for sparks and embers. Combustible debris can accumulate at the vents and openings on your home and be ignited by embers during a wildfire.
Combustible wood fences and boardwalks create a direct line to your home and can contribute to the spread of wildfire.
Many homes have attached decks, which can spread fire directly to the home when ignited during a wildfire. The materials used to build the deck, combustible materials stored on and under the deck, and the vegetation around it all contribute to how vulnerable a deck will be to ignition during a wildfire.
Cultural burning and prescribed fire are tools for maintaining the health and safety of our forests, communities, and wildlife.
Cultural Burning is a practice that has existed for millennia. It holds different meanings for different Indigenous communities but is often defined as the controlled application of fire on the landscape to achieve specific cultural objectives.
These burns are typically implemented at low intensity, with guidance from an Elder or Fire Knowledge Keeper, often in collaboration with inter-ministry partners. Common objectives for cultural burning include but are not limited to cultural and language preservation, fuel mitigation, food and medicinal plant revitalization, and habitat enhancement.
Prescribed fire is the planned and controlled application of fire to a specific land area used to achieve a variety of land management objectives, including but not limited to public safety and wildfire risk reduction, preserving Indigenous cultural values, improved wildlife habitat, revitalized vegetation, and protecting local economies.
To learn more, visit prescribedfire.ca
When homeowners implement FireSmart building and landscaping guidelines, sprinkler technologies can increase a structure’s chance of withstanding a severe wildfire.
The BC Building Code (BCBC) is a provincial regulation that governs how new construction, building alterations, repairs and demolitions are completed. This code establishes minimum requirements for safety, health, accessibility, fire and structural protection of buildings and energy and water efficiency. It applies throughout the province except for some federal lands and the City of Vancouver.