Wildfire Risks

Approximately 8,000 wildfires occur in Canada each year with over half caused by humans. Fire is an essential ecological process that contributes to the health of our forests, but unwanted wildland fires can be a serious threat to public safety and property. As wildfires and forest fires cause billions of dollars in property damage every year, it's essential to know how to prepare for and survive a fire and how to minimize damage to your home.

Be Prepared

• Keep the area surrounding your home clear of fire hazards such as dead leaves, brush or other debris. A healthy lawn around your home can be your best protection, acting as a natural firebreak between the house and surrounding woodland. Keep firewood and other sources of fuel at least 10 metres away from the walls of your home.
• Have an escape plan so that all family members know how to exit the house quickly and safely. Practise fire drills with your family so everyone knows what to do in an emergency.
• Install smoke detectors on every floor of your home. Test them monthly and change the batteries at least once a year. Consider replacing batteries when you change your clocks in the spring and fall.
• Replace an untreated wood shake roof with more fire resilient roofing materials like metal, tile, asphalt and treated shakes.
• Ensure your emergency preparedness kit is fully stocked and easily accessible and your emergency preparedness plan is up-to-date.

What to do if a Fire is Heading for Your Home

• Call 911 and report the fire immediately, even if the fire has already been reported on local news radio or TV. Calling in your location will help guide emergency service teams to your position.
• If the danger is imminent, evacuate your family and pets immediately. If you can see the fire approaching, get to safety as quickly as you can.
• If you have enough warning before the fire arrives, close all windows and doors in your home. Turn on inside and outdoor lights to aid visibility in case your home fills with smoke.
• Turn off all propane or natural gas supplies at the main shut-offs. Move propane barbecues into the open, away from your home and other nearby buildings.
• If you have time, take down curtains and move furniture and other flammable materials away from the windows.
• Pack valuables and your emergency preparedness kit into your car. Keep your car ready, doors unlocked and windows closed, in case you need to evacuate quickly.
• If you can, put lawn sprinklers on your roof and turn on the water. Soak the ground around your home with water.

During a Fire

• Keep a battery-powered or hand-cranked radio turned on and tuned to a local news station.
• Turn off heating, air conditioning and other air-exchange units that bring air in from outside.
• Keep doors and windows closed and all lights on to aid visibility.
• Be ready to evacuate at any time. When you need to leave, gather all family members and pets and head to the neighbourhood meeting place listed in your emergency preparedness plan.
• If you need to evacuate in thick smoke, ensure all family members cover their mouths and noses and breathe through a damp cloth to avoid smoke inhalation.
• Once you evacuate, return to your home only when emergency authorities have advised it is safe to do so.