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Community Wildfire Protection Plans

Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) is defined as the areas where structures and other human development meet with wildland areas containing flammable vegetation (trees, brushes, grasses). A fire in this area is called an interface fire. While 98 percent of interface fires do not significantly impact habited areas, the potential for urban interface remains a reality that must be addressed at all levels.

In the 'Filmon' report "Firestorm 2003 Provincial Review", it was recommended that the province take a lead role in the development of strategic plans in cooperation with local government. The Community Wildfire Protection Plan program was launched 2004 to improve fire prevention in the WUI zone. The purpose of the program is to assist communities in the development of plans that will assist them in improving fire prevention and protection in WUI areas. The objective is to improve community safety and reduce the risk of property damage. The program is funded by the Ministry of Forests and Range and administered by the Union of BC Municipalities.

Many areas in the RDN have a medium to high interface fire hazard rating. Community Wildfire Protection Plans define risk areas for interface fires; identifies measures necessary to mitigate risks; outlines an action plan for improving fire protection and prevention in the interface zone, and focuses on public education.

Local residents also play a key role in protecting public forests and range lands. The RDN encourages anyone who sees potentially harmful smoke or flame, or suspicious fire activity, to report it as soon as possible. Fires can be reported to 1-800-663-5555, or *5555 on mobile devices; suspicious and destructive fire activity and can be reported by calling 911.

Bow Horn Bay

With an estimated population of 3,400 and a significant seasonal visitor population, the risk of human caused fires is high. The Bow Horn Bay fire service area sprawls across approximately fourteen kilometers of predominately rural forest, much of which is private with little or no controlling regulations. Learn how this fast growing area is affected by the risk of interface fire.

• Bow Horn Bay - Community Wildfire Protection Plan [5.5MB File]
• Bow Horn Bay Fire Hazard Map

Coombs-Hilliers

Coombs and Hilliers, located roughly midway between Parksville and Port Alberni on the inland east coast of Vancouver Island, are characterized by their rural agricultural and forested settings. The communities have small, distinct central hubs along Highways 4 and 4A, around which rural residential lots and acreages, farms and pasture lands, resource extraction operations, forested parklands, and extensive privately managed forest lands extend across the gently undulating Nanaimo Lowland west to the foothills of the Vancouver Island Mountain Ranges.

• Coombs-Hilliers - Community Wildfire Protection Plan [10.2MB File]

Cranberry

The Cranberry Fire Department responds to approximately 65 - 70 calls per year. About 30 percent of the annual call volume consists of fire calls, a significant proportion of which are small brush fires. Learn how characteristics such as high vegetative fuel loading, rugged topography, forested riverside trails, hog fuel and land development slash piles contribute to extreme interface fire risk.

• Cranberry - Community Wildfire Protection Plan
• Cranberry Fire Hazard Map

Dashwood

The total area of Dashwood is 2,389 hectares, of which 1,489 ha (62%) has been rated as being at high or extreme risk of wildland fire. The study's site investigations and observations throughout the Dashwood area indicate the primary areas of concern in terms of mitigating wildland urban interface (WUI) fire are: good access to WUI sites by firefighting personnel and response units and the lack of FireSmart landscaping / engineering on residential properties and heavy forest fuel accumulations in close proximity to structures. Learn more about WUI fire risk in your area, and what you can do to reduce your risk.

• Dashwood CWPP Final
• Dashwood CWPP Map Fire History
• Dashwood CWPP Map Fuel Types
• Dashwood CWPP Map Historical Ignition Density
• Dashwood CWPP Map Location
• Dashwood CWPP Map Proposed Treatment
• Dashwood CWPP Map Risk Rating
• Dashwood CWPP Map Structure Density
• Dashwood CWPP Map Weather Station

Deep Bay

Approximately 80 percent of the Deep Bay Waterworks District has a high to extreme risk of interface fire. The Deep Bay Waterworks and Deep Bay Fire Volunteer Fire Department have been instrumental in fire protection and prevention efforts. Learn how increased human activity in forested lands increases greater fire risk.

• Deep Bay - Community Wildfire Protection Plan
• Deep Bay Fire Hazard Map

Errington

Hazard mapping conducted for the Community Wildfire Protection Plan indicates that 90 percent of the fire protection area is at a high to extreme risk of fire. Read about how forest lands generally 'default' to high or extreme interface ratings due to higher vegetation (fuel) loading compared with developed "built up" areas.

• Errington - Community Wildfire Protection Plan

Extension

Of the total land area in Extension, 85 percent is rated at high hazard from interface fire. The majority of Extension consists or rural residential properties intermixed with small agricultural holdings. Most wildfires in the area in the last 20 years have been started by humans - learn what you can do to reduce the risk.

• Extension - Community Wildfire Protection Plan

Gabriola Island

Learn how the summer 2006 fire on Galiano Island heightened awareness of the vulnerability of the Gulf Islands to wildfire. By reducing one road in/one road out systems, homes with steep winding driveways, and increasing direct (looping) accesses, Gabriola Island will be able to significantly decrease emergency response time and reduce risk of interface and intermix fire. Read about how the public can reduce fuel around the home, use fire retardant materials for construction, and spark arrestors on chimneys to decrease fire hazard to structures and surrounding vegetation.

• Gabriola - Community Wildfire Protection Plan [5.5MB File]
• Gabriola Fire Hazard Map

Horne Lake

The interface fire hazard rating at the Horne Lake Community ranges between High (23 percent) and Extreme (76 percent). Learn how factors like the influx of summer visitors, flammable vegetation around cottages and forest stands surrounding the lake pose unique challenges for an area outside of fire protection coverage.

• Horne Lake - Community Wildfire Protection Plan
• Horne Lake Fire Hazard Map

Nanoose Bay/Lantzville/Nanoose First Nation

Residents of Lantzville/Nanoose Bay/Nanoose First Nation enjoy an extensive peri-urban setting of forests and coastline. Recreational pursuits, industrial activities and expanding development in forested areas have increased the risk of fire in the interface zone of these communities. Almost 90% of the land base covered in this area is classified as a high and/or extreme hazard area for interface fire. Residents in this area need to be proactive in reporting human caused fires and in reducing fuel around their homes.

• Nanoose, Lantzville, Nanoose First Nation - Community Wildfire Protection Plan