Considering that Canada borders three oceans, spans six time zones, and has diverse terrain, it’s no surprise that a range of natural hazards can affect farms across the country at any given time. While one part of the country may be in a severe drought, another may experience record floods.
But regardless of the location, one hazard has become an all-too-common threat during the warmer months: wildfires.
Just look at Canada’s 2023 wildfire season, which was the most destructive on record. By the end of 2023, more than 6,000 fires had burned 15 million hectares of land, which, to put it in perspective, is substantially more than the annual average of 2.5 million hectares.
Which is why being prepared for wildfires, wherever you are, is essential. That’s exactly the message that FireSmart Canada, a national program that helps Canadians increase neighbourhood resilience to wildfire and minimize its negative impacts, wants to raise awareness about.
Below are some of FireSmart Canada’s recommendations and tips to reduce a farm’s vulnerability to wildfire.
Forms of ignition
Understanding the different forms of ignition — embers, radiant heat, and direct flame — is essential for identifying where fires might start on a farm and how they could spread.
With embers, which can travel several kilometres, the most significant risks are ember traps, such as grass, branches, needles, and other fine fuels, which are the main way that fire spreads to and through farms. In fact, 80 to 90 per cent of structures lost during a wildfire are due to ember transport.
The accumulation of combustible materials, dry vegetation, and other fine fuels is often inevitable on a farm. Still, it’s essential to take steps to mitigate the spread of fire throughout the farm property.
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