31 Mar 2026
Quick Answer: In 2026, wildfire insurance coverage for commercial assets is no longer a 'set-and-forget' policy. Following record losses in 2024 and 2025—including the $1.3 billion Jasper wildfire and the $22.4 billion January 2025 Los Angeles fires—insurers across North America have shifted to a 'Two-Speed Market' where high-hazard properties must prove active mitigation, such as [...]
24 Jul 2025
Does Rain Really Reduce Wildfire Risk in BC? Understanding the Limits of Rainfall in Preventing Wildfires Why Rain Doesn’t Eliminate Wildfire Danger in BC Many assume a rainy day means wildfire risk disappears-but in BC’s wildfire-prone regions like the Okanagan, that’s far from true. Short-term moisture doesn’t soak deep fuels: Grasses may green up temporarily, [...]
09 Jun 2025
FireSmart Your Property: Integrating SPIEDR Systems with Other Wildfire Mitigation Strategies To protect commercial properties in wildfire-prone BC regions like the Okanagan Valley, integrating SPIEDR’s advanced sprinkler systems with defensible space strategies and fire-smart landscaping can significantly reduce fire risk. 1. Start with Fire-Smart Defensible Space Creating a defensible space is the first line of [...]
by Bob Swart / Wildfire Info, Wildfire News, wildfire preparedness, Wildfire Prevention / No Comments
12 May 2025
Zombie Fires in the Okanagan: How Hidden Wildfires Threaten Businesses in 2025 Most assume wildfire season starts with the summer heat. However, 'zombie fires'—underground holdover fires—can reignite with little warning. For Okanagan businesses, these hidden threats are becoming an increasing concern as warmer winters and prolonged drought make the conditions ripe for re-ignition. What Are [...]
12 Apr 2025
Okanagan Wildfire Risks 2025: How Businesses Can Protect Their Property As wildfire season approaches, businesses in the Okanagan face some of the highest wildfire risks in Canada. With Kelowna and Kamloops identified as top hotspots for 2025, commercial property owners must act now. This guide highlights the key wildfire risks and how businesses can proactively [...]
13 Mar 2025
Wildfire season continues to pose an increasing threat to businesses, commercial properties, and infrastructure in British Columbia, particularly in high-risk regions like the Okanagan Valley. With changing climate conditions, experts predict that 2025 will bring unique challenges in wildfire mitigation and response. In this article, we’ll explore the latest predictions for the 2025 wildfire season [...]
30 Oct 2023
West Kelowna’s McDougall Creek wildfire devastated the community in 2023, leaving at least 190 homes and structures damaged or destroyed.
21 Dec 2022
Tolko Industries has been ordered by the Court to pay $343K in wildfire suppression costs after being found responsible for the 2016 Nazko fire.
18 Apr 2022
This year, a pilot project in British Columbia’s Kootenay and Okanagan regions is exploring a new kind of fire prevention by having local cattle graze in targeted areas. That’s right, local cows will be doing their part to keep their communities safer from the threat of wildfire this summer. The project is led by BC’s […]
22 Mar 2022
Recent studies have identified “double-hazard zones” — areas where vegetation characteristics and increasing atmospheric dryness combine to significantly elevate fire potential. This emerging research reinforces why a thorough wildfire risk assessment is essential for communities, planners, and property owners looking to reduce long-term exposure to wildfire. As wildfire seasons grow longer and more intense, understanding [...]
