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Introduction to FireSmart

Presented by: (insert name)

FireSmart, Intelli-feu and other associated Marks are trademarks of the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre (CIFFC).

Photo: McDougall Creek Wildfire, 2023, West Kelowna

Introduction to FireSmart

For a general audience presentation
PLEASE ENSURE THAT THE FIRST MENTION OF FIRESMART INCLUDES “TM” and the trademark sentence is in place.
Please adapt the presentation template to suit the needs of your community.
Begin with a land acknowledgement
Introduce yourself

The image on the right was taken after the McDougall Creek wildfire in West Kelowna in 2023. It shows an area where a coconut fibre doormat caught fire and nearly ignited the home.

This house was fortunate. Whether the fire burned itself out or firefighters were able to extinguish it, the home came very close to being lost because of a common household item.

This is a great example of what FireSmart is all about. Small details around our homes can make a big difference during a wildfire. The good news is that simple, practical actions, such as removing combustible items from around the home, can help reduce the chance of a home igniting and improve its chances of surviving a wildfire.

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Objectives

Understand wildfire risk

Learn about the Home Ignition Zone (HIZ)

Discover how FireSmart can protect communities

Explore resources and next steps

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Why Wildfires are Becoming More Dangerous

Climate crisis: increase in fire behaviour
Overly effective fire suppression for 100 years: forest health issues
Increasing development in Wildland Urban Interface areas

Photo: Burgess Creek Wildfire, 2024, Quesnel

Wildfires are a natural part of many ecosystems across Canada. They play an important role in the landscape by recycling nutrients, helping plants regenerate, and creating a mosaic of different vegetation types. This variety of habitats supports wildlife and overall biodiversity.

Fire is also a natural force of change, similar to storms or floods. In many areas, it is needed for ecosystems to stay healthy over the long term.

However, the way wildfires are behaving today is changing.

Several factors are making them more dangerous and harder to manage.

Climate change is contributing to more intense and less predictable fire behaviour.
More than a century of fire suppression has led to forests with higher fuel loads than would naturally occur.
At the same time, more homes are being built in the wildland urban interface, where development meets forested land.

The result is that when wildfire and communities overlap, the risk of damage and disaster increases.

To understand this better, it helps to look at how fire spreads and how homes ignite. Both vegetation, which is natural fuel, and buildings, which are built fuel, influence fire behaviour and risk.

While wildfire is a natural process, the goal is not to eliminate it. Instead, the goal is to learn how to live with fire while reducing its impact on communities. Periodic fire also helps reduce built up fuels like dead wood, leaves, and needles that accumulate on the forest floor. Without it, these fuels build up over time and can contribute to larger, more intense fires that are harder to control.

This relationship with wildfire is especially important where communities meet the forest, which is known as the Wildland Urban Interface, or WUI.

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Wildland Urban Interface (WUI)

Wildland Urban Interface is the area where human development meets or intermingles with the natural environment.

The Wildland Urban Interface, or WUI, is the area where human development meets or mixes with the natural environment. It is larger than many people realize.

An estimated 11 million Canadians live in areas of significant wildfire hazard. With a population of about 41.6 million, that means roughly one quarter of Canadians live in high risk areas.

As communities expand further into forested and natural landscapes, more homes and properties are exposed to wildfire risk, which also increases risk for neighbours and entire communities.

Since 2012, a number of studies have examined communities where homes were lost during wildfire events. While each event is different, these case studies are helping build a clearer understanding of how structure loss happens. They consistently show similar patterns and sequences that lead to homes being damaged or destroyed.

It is common to think of wildfire like other natural hazards such as floods or landslides, where a wall of water or debris moves through an area. Wildfire behaves differently. It does not move through everything in its path. It spreads only where there is fuel to burn. If there is nothing to burn, the fire cannot continue to move.

Next, we are going to watch a video that shows how wildfire moves into a community.

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2016 - Fort McMurray, AB

Video: Fort McMurray, Beacon Hill (May 4, 2016, 2:00 PM): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PCc1FvZ3g0Q&t=2s

This video is most effective when muted and narrated over by the presenter, using a pointer or cursor to guide attention and highlight key WUI fire behaviour and structure ignition processes.

This is a rear dash cam video taken from a vehicle during the evacuation of residents from the Beacon Hill neighbourhood in Fort McMurray during the 2016 wildfire. It captured real-time wildfire behaviour as it moved into a community, and provides a powerful example of how wildfire interacts with the Wildland Urban Interface.

We can see a large wildfire advancing from screen left. At the beginning, the fire front is still some distance from the neighbourhood, but as it progresses, it moves closer to homes and yards along the roadway.
Watch for the motorcyclist located between the advancing fire and the community. This helps illustrate how people can be exposed to significant risk in the interface zone.
As the fire approaches the road, we begin to see spot fires igniting along the roadside. This is a clear example of ember transport, with burning material being carried ahead of the main fire front.
At peak intensity, this fire is extremely severe, approaching what we classify as a Rank 5 fire on a scale that goes to Rank 6.
We can also see the effects of the heat on people evacuating in vehicles. The motorcyclist’s rapid exit highlights how quickly conditions can change in the WUI.
Next, notice the first spot fire igniting in yard vegetation near a home. This begins behind the bus stop and grows until visibility becomes limited.
A second spot fire then ignites in a small tree on a corner lot. This fire quickly increases in size and ultimately ignites the adjacent home.
At the same time, a fire truck passes by these ignitions, already committed to higher priority areas. This reflects how suppression efforts can become overwhelmed during major wildfire events.
An important observation is how quickly the main wildfire intensity drops once it moves through the area with available fuel. Within roughly one minute after peak intensity, the fire in the wildland fuels begins to diminish significantly.
It is also important to note that this neighbourhood layout is somewhat unique. The road network and open space create a partial firebreak in places. However, most WUI communities do not have this advantage, and homes are often exposed on both sides of the road.
As we watch, pay close attention to embers landing near homes. This is one of the most important concepts in FireSmart science.
While roads and open areas can reduce direct flame and radiant heat exposure, embers can travel far ahead of the fire front. When they land on non-combustible surfaces such as asphalt or vehicles, they typically burn out. However, when they land in flammable landscaping or debris, they can ignite spot fires.
In this case, we see multiple spot fires developing in residential yards, including flammable shrubs such as juniper or cedar.
This challenges the common perception that wildfire moves like a wall of flame through communities. In reality, it is often embers that cause home ignition. This means homes can be protected by reducing or removing materials that allow embers to accumulate and ignite.
As the wildfire intensity decreases and the ember shower reduces, multiple structure fires are already established. These initial ignitions spread rapidly between homes, quickly overwhelming suppression capacity.
From two initial home ignitions, the fire spread to four, then eight, and ultimately resulted in a large-scale community loss that displaced families and caused significant economic and social impacts.

This neighbourhood experienced a total loss. From a FireSmart perspective, it is important to understand that this outcome was not inevitable. With different building design and landscaping, the result could have been very different.

This case study reinforces a key FireSmart message. Small changes at the home and property scale can significantly influence whether a structure ignites during a wildfire event and can impact how an entire community weathers a wildfire event.

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Community Fire Disaster Sequence

When we talk about protecting communities from wildfire, we often focus on firefighting resources or fuel management in the surrounding forest. These are important, but post-fire research shows a more complete picture of what actually determines whether homes survive.

This is known as the community fire disaster sequence.

Environmental conditions such as hot, dry weather, wind, and terrain are difficult to change and do not fully determine the outcome on their own. They influence fire behaviour, but they are not the main driver of whether homes are lost.

The biggest influence is community conditions, including how homes are built, spaced, and maintained, and what is around them at the property level.

This is where FireSmart comes in. We cannot change the weather or landscape, but we can change conditions around homes to reduce risk.

Wildfire does not move through communities the same way it moves through forests. In the Wildland Urban Interface, the main issue is structure ignition, not wildfire control.

When multiple homes ignite at once, suppression resources can be overwhelmed, leading to neighbourhood-scale losses. This is the disaster sequence in action.

FireSmart actions such as reducing nearby fuels, pruning vegetation, and creating non-combustible space around homes can reduce fire intensity near structures and, more importantly, reduce the chance of ignition.

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Community Fire Disaster Sequence

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*Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety USA, 2019

Up to 90% of homes destroyed by wildland fires are ignited by embers.

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What is FireSmart?

Wildfire Preparedness

Education & Empowerment

Community Collaboration

Show of hands, who has heard of FireSmart? And when you hear the term FireSmart, what comes to mind?

FireSmart is about proactive wildfire prevention. It helps individuals and communities reduce wildfire risk using practical, science-based actions.

It also focuses on education and empowerment by providing tools, resources, and programs that help homeowners, local governments, and professionals make informed choices that improve wildfire resilience.

Another key part of FireSmart is community collaboration. It is based on shared responsibility, bringing people together to build safer and more resilient communities across British Columbia.

At its core, FireSmart is about being proactive instead of reactive. It is about learning, preparing, and working together to reduce risk. It is about preventing damage before it happens.

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What is FireSmart BC?

Photo: Community clean up at Xaxli'p First Nation

FireSmart BC is a provincial program aimed at reducing

the risk of wildfire damage to homes, communities, and forests.

Everyone’s actions count.

FireSmart BC is the provincial program that provides science-based tools, standards, and resources to help reduce wildfire risk across British Columbia.

It is guided by a committee of 12 partner agencies. This group helps coordinate and strengthen FireSmart work across the province.

While FireSmart BC is a provincial program, it is also delivered locally. Communities across BC run FireSmart programs differently, but they are all based on the same core principles and research.

Across the province, more than 1,500 FireSmart professionals support communities in building wildfire resilience through preparedness, prevention, mitigation, and recovery.

At its core, FireSmart is a community-based approach. It involves everyone, from homeowners and renters to planners, educators, and emergency responders.

In short, FireSmart is a practical, science-based program that helps reduce wildfire risk and build more resilient communities across the province.

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What We’re Working Toward

Build wildfire resiliency and reduce the negative impacts of fire for everyone in the province through FireSmart.

Our Mission

Our Vision

A wildfire resilient province where everyone works, plays and lives FireSmart.

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Why FireSmart Matters

Over the past 10 years, British Columbia has experienced seven of its worst wildfire seasons on record.
In 2023, approximately 2.84 million hectares burned, making it the largest wildfire season in BC’s recorded history.
In 2024, evacuation orders and alerts affected more than 15,500 properties and approximately 30,700 people.
While 2025 was less severe than the previous two years, the 886,300 hectares burned still remains well above the 10-year provincial average.

In British Columbia, wildfires are part of life, but the last decade has been especially extreme. Seven of the worst wildfire seasons on record have occurred in just the past ten years.

In 2023, nearly 3 million hectares burned, making it the largest wildfire season in B.C.’s recorded history. In 2024, more than 30,000 British Columbians were directly affected by evacuation alerts and orders.

So what does this mean?

We are seeing longer, hotter, and drier fire seasons, along with an increase in lightning-caused fires compared to what has historically been typical for the province.

At the same time, more and more people are feeling the impacts of wildfire, whether through smoke, evacuations, alerts, or broader mental health and community disruptions.

What used to be considered extreme fire seasons are becoming more common rather than the exception.

This is why a proactive approach is so important. We need to focus on actions that reduce risk before wildfire events occur, not only respond to them after they start.

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Video: West Kelowna Case Study

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If Homes Don’t Ignite, Homes Don’t Burn

To minimize the risk to your home, it is important to eliminate areas where embers can gather and ignite.

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Home Ignition Zone (HIZ)

Three priority areas:

Immediate Zone

(0 - 1.5 metres)

Intermediate Zone

(1.5 - 10 metres)

Extended Zone

(10 - 30 metres)

Many factors can influence wildfire behaviour, including weather, topography, and community design. However, research has shown that the condition of a structure and the area within 30 metres of it have the greatest impact on whether a home survives a wildfire.

We call this area the Home Ignition Zone, or HIZ. It includes your home, any other structures on your property, and everything within 30 metres of those structures.

To make FireSmart actions easier to prioritize, the HIZ is divided into three zones: the Immediate Zone, Intermediate Zone, and Extended Zone. We work from the structure outward because the area closest to the home has the greatest influence on wildfire risk.

Across all three zones, the focus is on reducing opportunities for flames to spread and removing places where embers can accumulate and ignite.

Let's take a closer look at each zone and some of the actions you can take to make your property more resilient to wildfire.

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Curled shingles

Leaves in gutter

Leaves in gutters

Leaves, patio furniture,�unsheathed wood deck

Flammable bark mulch

Unscreened vents

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FireSmart, Intelli-feu and other associated Marks are trademarks of the

Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre.

The next priority area is the Intermediate Zone, which extends from 1.5 metres to 10 metres from the home and attached structures.

The goal in this zone is to manage vegetation and other combustible materials so they do not transmit fire to your home. This can be done by selecting fire-resistant plants, using non-combustible landscaping materials, and reducing the amount of combustible material close to structures.

Combustible items such as firewood piles, construction materials, patio furniture, and decorative items should be kept out of this area whenever possible. Trailers, recreational vehicles, storage sheds, and other combustible structures should be moved into the Extended Zone. If this is not possible, consider creating a non-combustible area around them using gravel or other non-combustible ground cover.

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Branches on ground

Woodshed

Wood tools and lawn-�mower next to shed

Propane tank

Un-pruned trees

Firepit, wood pile, furniture

Leaf pile and more branches

FireSmart, Intelli-feu and other associated Marks are trademarks of the

Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre.

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FireSmart, Intelli-feu and other associated Marks are trademarks of the

Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre.

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Branches on ground

Dead tree

Branches on ground

Dying tree

Branches on ground

Dense trees including dying & dead trees

Dry grass

FireSmart, Intelli-feu and other associated Marks are trademarks of the

Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre.

In this example, we can see several common hazards, including dry grass, dead branches on the ground, dead trees, and trees that are closely spaced with dense lower branches. These conditions can increase fire intensity and allow fire to spread more easily across a property.

By cleaning up flammable grasses and debris, spacing trees appropriately, and pruning lower branches, you create breaks in available fuels between the wildland and your home. This helps reduce fire intensity and the likelihood of flames reaching structures.

You'll also notice that the shed has been moved into the Extended Zone. While this is often the preferred location for outbuildings, it is important to remember that detached structures such as sheds and garages should still be mitigated using FireSmart principles, just like the main home.

If your property extends beyond 30 metres, continue applying these same practices. Work with neighbours where Home Ignition Zones overlap, and consider seeking guidance from a forest professional if there are additional factors such as steep slopes or dense forest conditions.

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FireSmart, Intelli-feu and other associated Marks are trademarks of the

Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre.

As a final recap, the Home Ignition Zone is the area within 30 metres of your home where wildfire risk can be reduced through simple, practical actions.

The Immediate Zone is 0-1.5 m from your home and focuses on creating a non-combustible area directly around the home and attached structures. The goal is to prevent ember ignition at the structure. This is the most important zone to work on!

The Intermediate Zone is 1.5-10 m from your home and focuses on managing vegetation and removing combustible materials to reduce fire spread and limit fuel near the home.

The Extended Zone is 10-30 m and focuses on reducing fire intensity by spacing, pruning, and removing fuels in surrounding vegetation.

The overall goal is to reduce available fuels, limit ember ignition points, and decrease the chance of wildfire reaching and impacting the home.

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Structure Ignition Triangle

Another helpful way to think about wildfire risk is through the Structure Ignition Triangle, which groups mitigation actions into three categories: Structure, Vegetation, and Lifestyle.

A home assessment reviews factors in each of these areas that can increase or reduce wildfire risk:

Structure: Building materials, design features, and maintenance, such as roofing condition, siding, decks, and vents.
Vegetation: The types, location, and maintenance of plants and trees around the home, including pruning, mowing, and removing dead vegetation.
Lifestyle: How combustible items are stored and maintained, such as firewood, patio furniture, and recreational equipment, as well as awareness of FireSmart practices.

Together, these three categories provide a practical framework for understanding and reducing wildfire risk around a property.

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Local Level Involvement

Plant Program
Landscaping Hub
Wildfire Mitigation Program
Local FireSmart Collective Program
FireSmart BC Education Program
Library Program
Farm and Ranch Program

Our community programs include:

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Plant Program

Supports the selection of plants that are less likely to contribute to fire spread
Encourages wildfire-resilient landscaping practices
Helps residents create attractive and functional outdoor spaces

Helping residents make informed landscaping choices by partnering with local garden centres and nurseries

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Landscaping Hub

Provides practical guidance for creating wildfire-resilient landscapes
Includes landscaping tips, design considerations, and maintenance recommendations
Helps residents understand how to reduce wildfire risk around their homes and properties

A one-stop resource for FireSmart landscaping information

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Wildfire Mitigation Program

Provides a detailed property assessment
Identifies key risk factors such as vegetation, building materials, maintenance
Delivers tailored recommendations to improve home resilience

Helping residents understand and reduce wildfire risk around their home

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Local FireSmart Collective Program

Brings residents together to reduce wildfire risk
Focuses on education, engagement, and community-based FireSmart mitigation actions
Helps coordinate activities such as neighbourhood assessments, events, and mitigation projects

Supporting collective wildfire resilience at the community level

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FireSmart BC Education Program

Provides free, interactive and inclusive lessons for kindergarten to grade 12
Are purposefully aligned with the BC school curriculum

Topics covered in the lessons include:

Safety
Fire science
Ecosystem stewardship
Wildfire mitigation & prevention

Introducing students and teachers to FireSmart concepts

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Library Program

Provides free FireSmart resources through local library systems
Includes books, literacy kits, and interactive educational materials
Helps make FireSmart learning accessible in a familiar community setting

A literacy program to help children and families understand wildfires and wildfire resiliency

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Farm and Ranch Program

Supporting farms and ranches in reducing their wildfire risk

Offers Farm & Ranch Assessments that identify wildfire risks to agricultural structures and operations
Delivers practical, tailored recommendations to help protect buildings, equipment, and livelihoods
Supports the development of wildfire plans to help producers prepare before an emergency

The FireSmart BC Farm & Ranch Program was developed to address the unique wildfire challenges faced by agricultural producers. The program provides resources, planning tools, and assessments that are tailored specifically to farms and ranches.

One of the key components of the program is the Farm & Ranch Assessment. During an assessment, a trained assessor visits the operation, evaluates important farm structures and the surrounding area, and identifies wildfire risks. Producers then receive practical recommendations that are tailored to their priorities and operation.

The program also provides wildfire preparedness resources, including planning guides and workbooks that help producers develop wildfire plans and prepare to respond during an emergency. The goal is to help protect agricultural operations, infrastructure, and livelihoods from wildfire.

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Benefits of FireSmart

Increases a structure’s chance of surviving a wildfire

Decreases strain on already stretched resources

Builds peace of mind

Strengthens community resilience

The benefits of FireSmart go beyond reducing wildfire risk.

One of the most important benefits is that it reduces the likelihood of embers igniting your home or property. Since embers are responsible for most home ignitions during wildfires, small FireSmart actions can have a significant impact.

FireSmart can also help firefighters do their jobs more effectively. When homes are better prepared, firefighters can focus more of their efforts on controlling the wildfire itself rather than defending individual structures.

There are community benefits as well. FireSmart projects often bring neighbours together, strengthen relationships with local fire departments, and create a shared sense of responsibility for community safety.

Perhaps most importantly, FireSmart provides peace of mind. Knowing that you have taken steps to reduce risk can help you feel more prepared if a wildfire occurs.

In many First Nations communities, FireSmart can also support broader community goals. It may involve caring for Elders' homes, organizing community clean-up events, removing invasive or unwanted vegetation, or combining wildfire resilience work with cultural practices and stewardship activities.

FireSmart is about more than protecting individual homes. It is about building stronger, safer, and more connected communities that are better prepared to live with wildfire.

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Wildfire Seasonal Outlook

drought / prolonged drought

low overwinter snowpack

absence of spring rain

Three factors of a prolonged fire season:

This slide can be adapted based on the current seasonal outlook:

When wildfire forecasters develop a seasonal outlook, there are three key factors they pay close attention to: drought conditions, snowpack levels, and spring precipitation.

Drought is an important indicator because dry forests and grasslands are more likely to support wildfire ignition and spread. Areas experiencing prolonged drought often have a greater potential for more active fire behaviour.

Snowpack is another important factor. A below-average snowpack can lead to earlier snowmelt, exposing vegetation sooner and extending the length of the fire season. This can also increase the likelihood of early season grass fires.

The third factor is spring rainfall. Regular precipitation during the spring helps keep fuels moist and can delay the onset of fire activity. Conversely, a dry spring can accelerate the drying of vegetation and contribute to increased wildfire risk.

Of all the factors, spring rains are the most significant factor in determining the long-range wildfire outlook.

Together, these factors help wildfire agencies assess potential fire activity and prepare for the upcoming season. While seasonal outlooks can provide valuable information, weather conditions throughout the spring and summer ultimately play a major role in how a wildfire season unfolds.

—---------------------

For an annual wildfire seasonal outlook, follow this link https://blog.gov.bc.ca/bcwildfire/category/seasonal-outlook/

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Staying Informed During Wildfire Season

As wildfire activity increases, staying informed is an important part of preparedness:

BC Wildfire Service App & Webpage
BCWildfire.ca
EmergencyInfoBC
DriveBC
PreparedBC
Local government and regional district channels

We've talked about how FireSmart actions can help reduce risk around our homes and communities, and we've reviewed the seasonal outlook to understand what conditions we may face this year.

The next step is knowing where to find reliable information when wildfire activity occurs.

During the wildfire season, information can change quickly. Staying informed helps residents understand what is happening in their area and take action when needed.

The BC Wildfire Service is the primary source for wildfire information, including wildfire locations, size, status, and response activities. Their app and web map provide the most up-to-date wildfire information available to the public.

For evacuation alerts and orders, road closures, and emergency response information, residents should also monitor EmergencyInfoBC, DriveBC, and communications from their local government or regional district.

Being FireSmart is about more than preparing your property, it's also about knowing where to find trusted information before, during, and after a wildfire event.

_______________________

BC Wildfire Service map: https://wildfiresituation.nrs.gov.bc.ca/map

BCWildfire.ca

EmergencyInfoBC

DriveBC

PreparedBC

Local governments and regional districts

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Your Next Steps

Talk to your FireSmart Coordinator

Book a free home assessment

Visit FireSmartBC.ca

Get Involved!

At this point, FireSmart can feel a little overwhelming. There are lots of recommendations, programs, and resources available. The good news is that you do not have to do everything at once.

A great place to start is simply by visiting the FireSmart BC website. The FireSmart BC team has worked hard to make wildfire preparedness as accessible and approachable as possible, with resources for homeowners, renters, communities, and professionals.

If you'd like to learn more, you can listen to the Get FireSmart Podcast, sign up for the e-newsletter, follow FireSmart BC on social media, or explore resources like Ember that help teach children about wildfire preparedness.

The most important thing is to start somewhere. Every FireSmart action, no matter how small, helps build a safer and more resilient home, neighbourhood, and community.

______________________

Podcast - https://firesmartbc.ca/the-get-firesmart-podcast/

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/firesmartbc

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/firesmartbc/

X (Twitter) - https://twitter.com/BCFireSmart

LinkedIn - https://ca.linkedin.com/company/firesmart-bc?trk=public_post_feed-actor-name

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THANK YOU

Questions?

Contact:

Email:

Phone: