Wildland Fire in Canada: Communities at Risk Presented to Global Disaster Information Network Washington DC, March 25-28, 2004 Natural Resources Canada Ressources naturelles Canada Canadian Forest Service Service canadien des for ê ts

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 forestry Natural Resources Canada Ressources naturelles Canada Canadian Forest Service Service canadien des for ê ts

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 forestry

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 Averages 3% of all wildfires cause 97% of the area burned and generate 80% of the costs. Natural Resources Canada Ressources naturelles Canada Canadian Forest Service Service canadien des for ê ts

7,700 fires

3.2 million ha burned

$0.5 billion suppression cost

$1 billion (est.) timber lost

$6.9 million property loss

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

Forest Fires - 2003 Natural Resources Canada Ressources naturelles Canada Canadian Forest Service Service canadien des for ê ts

Forest Fires - 2003 Natural Resources Canada Ressources naturelles Canada Canadian Forest Service Service canadien des for ê ts

Forest Fires by Province - 2003 Natural Resources Canada Ressources naturelles Canada Canadian Forest Service Service canadien des for ê ts

Large Forest Fires - 2003 Natural Resources Canada Ressources naturelles Canada Canadian Forest Service Service canadien des for ê ts

Mountain Pine Beetle Setting the Stage Natural Resources Canada Ressources naturelles Canada Canadian Forest Service Service canadien des for ê ts

Setting the Stage Natural Resources Canada Ressources naturelles Canada Canadian Forest Service Service canadien des for ê ts

BC & Alberta – Aug. 21, 2003 Natural Resources Canada Ressources naturelles Canada Canadian Forest Service Service canadien des for ê ts

Kewlona, British Columbia Natural Resources Canada Ressources naturelles Canada Canadian Forest Service Service canadien des for ê ts

Kewlona, BC Sept. 3, 2003 Natural Resources Canada Ressources naturelles Canada Canadian Forest Service Service canadien des for ê ts

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 Natural Resources Canada Ressources naturelles Canada Canadian Forest Service Service canadien des for ê ts

300+ homes lost

30,000+ residents evacuated

Personal property damage > $100 M

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

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 naturelles Canada Canadian Forest Service Service canadien des for ê ts

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.

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 Natural Resources Canada Ressources naturelles Canada Canadian Forest Service Service canadien des for ê ts

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

Climate Change Impacts 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 Annual Area Burned (%) 1959-99 Natural Resources Canada Ressources naturelles Canada Canadian Forest Service Service canadien des for ê ts

Longer fire season

More severe fire weather

More and larger fires

More extreme fire behaviour

More escape wildfires

Increased fire impacts

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) Natural Resources Canada Ressources naturelles Canada Canadian Forest Service Service canadien des for ê ts

The Need Develop innovative processes and relationships among all stakeholders based on joint risk management Analyse the complex interactions between wildland fire, communities, the forestry sector, and government. Natural Resources Canada Ressources naturelles Canada Canadian Forest Service Service canadien des for ê ts

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 Natural Resources Canada Ressources naturelles Canada Canadian Forest Service Service canadien des for ê ts

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

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 Natural Resources Canada Ressources naturelles Canada Canadian Forest Service Service canadien des for ê ts

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

In Conclusion…. A joint risk management approach would address the growing complexity and uncertainty of forest fire management. Natural Resources Canada Ressources naturelles Canada Canadian Forest Service Service canadien des for ê ts