Sometimes a wildland fire produces a vertical twister of flame called a fire whirl or fire tornado (sometimes called a firenado). A well-known recent example of this was the devastating Carr fire in California in 2018, which produced a highly destructive fire tornado. One wildfire can produce multiple fire whirls and fire tornadoes of varying […]
You never know when an out-of-control wildfire or other natural disaster could force you to be evacuated from your home. Being prepared with an emergency supply kit is crucial. For guidance on what to include in your kit and how to make it efficient, check out our tips on wildfire preparedness. Keep Your Kit Manageable […]
This summer’s relative lack of wildfire in British Columbia had Vancouverites breathing a sigh of relief, but the last few years of heavy smoke in the province has more and more people thinking about the consequences of forest fire smoke in regard to health and the environment. Despite the respite in BC this year, overall […]
Why Forests Need Wildfires Usually when we think of fire, we think of destruction. However, this is not an accurate or holistic understanding of the effects of wildfires on our environment. Forest fires actually have many positive effects as well. In fact, the benefits of a naturally occurring wildfire generally outweigh the negative effects, at […]
Storms are not necessarily a harbinger of rain and fire suppression, although we may think of them that way more often that not. Thunderstorms can actually cause wildfires, and wildfires can cause thunderstorms. In order to best prepare for the fire season, it is important to understand exactly how the weather can affect forest fires […]
Understanding fire bans and restrictions can be confusing. You don’t want to end up getting slapped with a big fine just because you didn’t fully understand the difference between a category 1 and category 2 open fire, so we’ve laid out all the information you need about BC fire regulations in a simple, straightforward way. […]
With the increasing wildfire levels of the last few years, it is becoming more and more important to understand the various factors that can contribute to forest fires and learn what the province can do to decrease the risk. Recently, the use of herbicides by BC’s Ministry of Forests has come into question as it may contribute to the province’s wildfire problem.
Fires on oil and gas fields are becoming more and more of a problem. Increased production of oil and gas coupled with higher rates of wildfires means an increased number of wildfires occurring at these sites.
Learn how wildfires are contained and put out using these specialized firefighting strategies.
Over the years prescribed fires have been utilized less frequently, even with the growing wildfire issues throughout the province. It is the general consensus though, that fighting fire with fire is the most strategic method available to the province for reducing the growing risk of wildfires.