What causes wildfires?
The number, size, and intensity of wildfires have been increasing in the Thompson-Okanagan region, but have you ever wondered what sparks these blazes?
Research has shown that an average of 60% of wildfires in BC are caused naturally, while the remaining 40% are started by human activity.
Generally, naturally-caused wildfires occur when lightning strikes an object because it releases enough heat to ignite a tree or other fuels. Although these fires cannot be prevented, they can be predicted, and the risk of natural fires can be reduced with fuel management and prescribed burning where undergrowth is high.
Additionally, wildfires can be brought on by severely dry conditions, and the Thompson-Okanagan is known to have some of the driest communities in Canada.
Human-caused wildfires are often a result of open burning, vehicle and engine use, industrial activity, fireworks, sky-lanterns, outdoor flame lighting, discarding burning items such as cigarettes, and arson. While some of these activities may be unintentional causes of wildfires, all wildfires started by people are preventable.
How is the cause of a wildfire determined?
To determine the cause of a wildfire, the BC Wildfire Service employs fire origin and cause specialists to lead investigations and coordinate with other agencies such as the RCMP and Compliance and Enforcement Branch.
Investigators consider ignition sources, burn patterns, physical evidence, weather history, and witness statements, and it can take weeks or even months for a wildfire investigation to be completed.
When a wildfire is determined to be human-caused, it is then assessed for any illegal activity. Anyone in BC who is found liable for starting a wildfire through illegal activity could be responsible for covering the costs of suppression efforts or reforestation.
What did last year’s wildfire season look like?
The 2023 wildfire season was the most destructive in BC’s recorded history, with 2,245 wildfires burning more than 2.84 million hectares of land and hundreds of homes.
According to the Government of BC, 72% of these fires were caused naturally, 25% were caused by human activity, and the remaining 3% have yet to be determined.
Are you prepared for the 2024 wildfire season? You could be.
Contact SparkProof to assess your risk and develop a property protection plan.