Wildfire preparedness for BC and Alberta.
Six FireSmart-aligned steps, each with a direct link to the authoritative source. We orient — we don’t rewrite the rulebook.
This page points you to the Canadian authorities who set wildfire preparedness guidance — it does not replace them. The source of record for home and community preparedness is FireSmart Canada. Provincial regulators set the rules on fire bans, campfires, and off-road vehicle restrictions. Always confirm current conditions with the agency that issued them before you act.
The Home Ignition Zone
The Home Ignition Zone (HIZ) is the area within about 30 metres of your home where most wildfire damage to homes starts. FireSmart Canada divides it into three zones — immediate (0–1.5 m), intermediate (1.5–10 m), and extended (10–30 m) — each with a different set of guidance for vegetation, materials, and spacing. Read the full guidance from FireSmart Canada — Home Ignition Zone. WildFire-Ready includes a short in-app HIZ self-assessment that mirrors their structure and links back to the source for every point.
Six checklists
The in-app Fire Guard has six checklists. Each mirrors public FireSmart Canada and provincial guidance. Use the summaries below to orient yourself, then follow the link to the authoritative page before you make changes that affect safety.
Prevent ignitions
- Check current campfire and open-burning categories before you light anything.
- Keep a spark arrestor on off-road vehicles and chainsaws.
- Never leave a campfire unattended; drown, stir, feel cold before leaving.
- Follow debris-burning windows and registration rules.
Current restrictions: BC Wildfire Service bans & restrictions · Alberta fire bans & advisories
Home & property
- Keep the first 1.5 m around the home non-combustible — no bark mulch, no stored firewood.
- Clear gutters, roofs, and decks of needles and leaves.
- Prefer metal roofing and ember-resistant vents where you can.
- Move firewood and propane tanks well away from the house.
Go-bag (72 hours)
- Water, non-perishable food, flashlight, battery or hand-crank radio.
- Copies of ID, insurance, and key documents in a waterproof sleeve.
- Medications, glasses, basic first-aid kit, N95 respirators.
- Phone charger, power bank, and some cash in small bills.
Family plan
- Agree on two meeting points — one near home, one out of the area.
- Pick one out-of-province contact everyone calls or texts.
- Write down the school / childcare pickup plan.
- Practise the plan once a year; update when phones or addresses change.
Pets & livestock
- Keep current ID and contact on every collar and halter.
- Carriers, leashes, and a few days of food ready to grab.
- For large animals, plan trailering and a destination in advance.
- Register with provincial livestock evacuation resources where offered.
Source: FireSmart Canada · Alberta — Emergency preparedness for livestock
When the alert comes
- Evacuation alert = be ready to leave. Evacuation order = leave now.
- Load documents, medications, and the go-bag first; pets next; valuables last.
- Close windows, turn off gas, leave exterior lights on for responders.
- Register at a reception centre so officials know you got out.
Current alerts: EmergencyInfoBC · Alberta Emergency
Authoritative sources
When in doubt, go to the source. These pages are the ones to cite, share, and check first:
- FireSmart Canada — home, property, and community guidance.
- BC Wildfire Service — active fires, perimeters, and restrictions in British Columbia.
- Alberta Wildfire — active fires, fire bans, and advisories in Alberta.
- EmergencyInfoBC — official evacuation alerts and orders for BC.
- Alberta Emergency — official alerts and public safety information.
- Environment and Climate Change Canada — AQHI — real-time Air Quality Health Index.