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When faced with fire: Responding to Canada’s wildfire risk

Since 1990, wildfires have consumed an average of 2.5 million hectares a year across Canada, with around 7,300 fires occurring annually. These fires can ravage communities, destroy buildings and infrastructure, and even claim lives.

05/18/2023 · 2 minute read

Since 1990, wildfires have consumed an average of 2.5 million hectares a year across Canada, with around 7,300 fires occurring annually. These fires can ravage communities, destroy buildings and infrastructure, and even claim lives.

In our first episode of When faced with fire, a three part podcast series where we explore Canada’s wildfire risk, Ritch Seely, managing director of consulting solutions within Marsh Advisory Canada, chats with George Fan, who is their lead consultant for natural catastrophe and climate risks. They give context to the rising prevalence of wildfires, explain the basic science behind them, and discuss mitigation strategies you can employ to better protect your business.

Stay tuned for upcoming episodes, where we will discuss the impacts of climate change on wildfire and potential insurance implications, ways to improve your business resilience, and how you can minimize wildfire associated disruptions.

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Key takeaways

Wildfire risk is increasing

Not only are wildfires becoming more prevalent, we are progressively advancing more into nature, which inadvertently comes with a higher risk of wildfires. All it takes to start a wildfire is high temperatures, low humidity, and a spark.

Understanding your exposure is crucial

Business owners not only need to understand their building's vulnerability to direct flame, embers, and radiant heat, but also their exposure from nearby infrastructure. Even if their premises suffers no damage from the wildfire, infrastructure disruptions may lead to prolonged production stoppages.

A multi-pronged approach provides better protection

Implementing physical measures is not enough to mitigate your wildfire risk. Business owners should also develop wildfire response plans identifying what actions will be taken and who will be involved if there is an emergency.

Resources

The Canadian Wildland Fire Information System (CWFIS) gives you insight into when and how a wildfire may be approaching your site by providing daily fire weather and fire behavior maps year-round.

FireSmart™ Canada helps you lessen your wildfire risk by offering resources that address common concerns about wildfire in the wildland urban interface.

FM Global provides reports and data sheets that can help you protect and prepare yourself against wildfire risk with recommendations on how to mitigate your exposure.

Although the National Fire Protection Association’s (NFPA) standards for wildland fire management are not publicly available, NFPA’s wildfire division offers many free resources, such as fact sheets and online trainings, which can help you reduce your risks of damage and loss due to wildfire.

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