Wildland fire in Canada: Communities at Risk

Wildland Fire in Canada:Communities at Risk

Wildland Fire in Canada:Communities at Risk

Presented to Global Disaster Information NetworkWashington DC, March 25-28, 2004

Natural Resources Canada Ressources naturelles Canada

Canadian Forest Service Service canadien

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Canada’s Forest Sector

• Environmental services: • habitat for 140,000 species

• carbon sinks

• water quality

• Renewable resource: • $74 Billion in annual forest product sales

• 300+ rural communities in Canada

• 361,000 direct jobs in forestryNatural Resources Canada Ressources

naturelles CanadaCanadian Forest Service Service canadien

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Forest Fires in Canada

• 7,700 fires

• 3.2 million ha burned

• $0.5 billion suppression cost

• $1 billion (est.) timber lost

• $6.9 million property loss



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Averages

•3% of all wildfires cause 97% of the area burned and generate 80% of the costs.

Forest Fires - 2003



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Forest Fires - 2003



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Forest Fires by Province - 2003



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Large Forest Fires - 2003



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Natural Resources Canada Ressources


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Mountain Pine Beetle

Setting the Stage

Setting the Stage



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BC & Alberta – Aug. 21, 2003



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Kewlona, British Columbia



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Kewlona, BC Sept. 3, 2003



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2003 Fire Emergency 2003 Fire Emergency

Impact in BC and AB were unprecedented in modern times in Canada

•300+ homes lost

•30,000+ residents evacuated

•Personal property damage > $100 M

•Evacuation & Suppression costs – BC requested $200M from federal government



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Socioeconomic Context Socioeconomic Context

•Fire management is the most costly element of forest management.

•Federal government is responsible for fire research and supporting fire operations.

•Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre coordinates resource exchanges

•Provinces, Territories, and Parks Canada are responsible for fire management

•Municipalities are responsible for fire suppression in rural and urban areas.Natural Resources Canada Ressources


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Recent Incidents • Kelowna/Barriere, BC (2003)

• Hillcrest/Blairmore, AB (2003)

• Turtle Lake, SK (2002)

• Chisholm, AB (2001)

• Burwash Landing, YK (1999)

• La Ronge, SK (1999)

• Beardmore, ON (1999)

• Shelburne County, NS (1999)

• Badger, NF (1999)

• Salmon Arm, BC (1998)

• Swan Hills, AB (1998)

• Granum, AB (1997)

• Timmins, ON (1997)

• Affect thousands of Canadians each year• Significant social and economic impacts• Potential for lost of life is rising

Wildland-Urban Interface Fires Wildland-Urban Interface Fires



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Climate Change ImpactsAnnual Area Burned (%)

1959-99 Increasing fire activity is expected Increasing fire activity is expected

• Longer fire season

• More severe fire weather

• More and larger fires

• More extreme fire behaviour

• More escape wildfires

• Increased fire impacts

• Longer fire season

• More severe fire weather

• More and larger fires

• More extreme fire behaviour

• More escape wildfires

• Increased fire impacts



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Socioeconomic Trends

Population growth in wildland-urban interface (more lives and property will be at risk)

Increased smoke impact on health (smoke will become a greater problem in large urban centers)

Greater costs / losses (suppression, evacuation, compensation, rehabilitation)

Population growth in wildland-urban interface (more lives and property will be at risk)

Increased smoke impact on health (smoke will become a greater problem in large urban centers)

Greater costs / losses (suppression, evacuation, compensation, rehabilitation)



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The Need

Develop innovative processes and relationships among all stakeholders based on joint risk management



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Analyse the complex interactions between wildland fire, communities, the forestry sector, and government.

•Policies to balance social, economic, and ecological impacts of fire

•Role of various stakeholders in forest fire management

•Social and economic costs of forest fires

•Adequacy of existing infrastructure

•Sharing the risk of wildland-urban interface fires

•Hazard mitigation to proactively reduce wildfires risk

Considerations



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http://cwfis.cfs.nrcan.gc.ca/en/current/cc_fb2_e.php?year=03&month=08&day=21&map_type=hfi

http://www.navy.forces.gc.ca/mspa_images/marpac_images/gallery_images/large/17Sep_THE_FINAL_WORD.jpg

•Environment Scan - policies, practices, infrastructure, state of the art

•Assess vulnerability - number of communities/citizens at risk

•Forecast future trends - forest fire activity and impacts

•Economic evaluation – costs, losses, compensation, rehabilitation,

•Evaluate hazard mitigation and risk management strategies

•Initiate dialogue on stakeholder roles

An Approach



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In Conclusion….A joint risk management approach would address the growing complexity and uncertainty of forest fire management.



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Business

Wildland fire in Canada: Communities at Risk