alberni-clayoquot regional district community wildfire protection plan

7/25/2019 Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District Community Wildfire Protection Plan

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Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District Community Wildfire Protection Plan

A L B E R N I C L A Y O Q U O T

R E G I O N A L D I S T R I C T

C O M M U N I T Y W I L D F I R E

P R O T E C T I O N P L A N

ConsiderationsforWildlandUrbanInterfaceManagementfor

theAlberniClayoquotRegionalDistrict,BritishColumbia

Submittedby:

B.A.BlackwellandAssociatesLtd.3087HoskinsRoad

NorthVancouver,B.C.

V7J3B5

Submittedto:

LaurieLHeureux

EmergencyPlanningCoordinator

AlberniClayoquot

Regional

District

30085thAvenue

PortAlberni,BritishColumbia

CanadaV9Y2E3

RPF PRINTED NAME Registered Professional ForestersSignature and Seal

Bruce A. Blackwell RPF 2073DATE SIGNED

I certify that I have reviewed this document and I have determinedthat this work has been done to standards acceptable of a

Registered Professional Forester.

B.A. Blackwell & Associates Ltd. Page i July 2010


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TableofContents

1.0 INTRODUCTION..............................................................................................................................1

2.0 ALBERNI-CLAYOQUOT REGIONAL DISTRICT.........................................................................2

2.1 OVERVIEW....................................................................................................................................................22.2

TOPOGRAPHY

..............................................................................................................................................

4

2.3 POPULATION................................................................................................................................................4

2.3.1 Alberni Valley..........................................................................................................................................5

2.3.2 Franklin River Road................................................................................................................................6

2.3.3 Sarita.......................................................................................................................................................6

2.3.4 Bamfield...................................................................................................................................................6

2.4 INFRASTRUCTURE........................................................................................................................................7

2.4.1 Alberni Valley..........................................................................................................................................7

2.4.2 Franklin River Road................................................................................................................................8

2.4.3 Sarita.......................................................................................................................................................8

2.4.4 Bamfield...................................................................................................................................................8

2.5

ENVIRONMENTAL VALUES

..........................................................................................................................

9

3.0 FIRE ENVIRONMENT.....................................................................................................................11

3.1 FIRE WEATHER..........................................................................................................................................11

3.1.1 Alberni Valley and Franklin River Road...............................................................................................12

3.1.2 Sarita.....................................................................................................................................................14

3.1.3 Bamfield.................................................................................................................................................163.2 FUELS.........................................................................................................................................................17

3.2.1 Fuel Type Summary..............................................................................................................................183.3 HISTORIC IGNITIONS.................................................................................................................................20

3.3.1 Alberni Valley and Franklin River Road...............................................................................................20

3.3.2 Sarita and Bamfield...............................................................................................................................21

4.0

THE WILDLAND URBAN INTERFACE

........................................................................................

24

4.1 VULNERABILITY OF THE WILDLAND URBAN INTERFACE TO FIRE...........................................................24

5.0 COMMUNITY RISK PROFILE........................................................................................................29

6.0 COMMUNITY WILDFIRE PROTECTION PLANNING PROCESS............................................31

7.0 ACTION PLAN..................................................................................................................................32

7.1 COMMUNICATION AND EDUCATION........................................................................................................32

7.1.1 Objectives..............................................................................................................................................32

7.1.2 Issues.....................................................................................................................................................32

7.1.3 Recommendations Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District...................................................................33

7.2

STRUCTURE PROTECTION

..........................................................................................................................

347.2.1

Objectives..............................................................................................................................................34

7.2.2 Issues.....................................................................................................................................................34

7.2.3 Recommendations Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District...................................................................387.3 EMERGENCY RESPONSE.............................................................................................................................39

7.3.1 Objectives..............................................................................................................................................39

7.3.2 Issues.....................................................................................................................................................39


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7.4 TRAINING/EQUIPMENT............................................................................................................................41

7.4.1 Objectives..............................................................................................................................................41

7.4.2 Issues.....................................................................................................................................................42

7.4.3 Recommendations Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District...................................................................427.5 VEGETATION (FUEL)MANAGEMENT........................................................................................................43

7.5.1 Objectives..............................................................................................................................................43

7.5.2

Issues

.....................................................................................................................................................

43


8.0 COMMUNITY WILDFIRE PROTECTION PLANNING BACKGROUND.................................50

8.1 COMMUNICATION AND EDUCATION........................................................................................................50

8.1.1 Target Audiences...................................................................................................................................51

8.1.2 Pilot Projects..........................................................................................................................................52

8.1.3 Website..................................................................................................................................................52

8.1.4 Media Contacts, Use and Coordination.................................................................................................52

8.1.5 Other Methods.......................................................................................................................................53

8.1.6 General Messages..................................................................................................................................53

8.2

STRUCTURE PROTECTION

..........................................................................................................................

54

8.2.1 FireSmart...............................................................................................................................................54

8.2.2 Planning and Bylaws............................................................................................................................55

8.2.3 Sprinklers...............................................................................................................................................57

8.2.4 Joint Municipality Cooperation.............................................................................................................57

8.2.5 Structured FireSmart Assessments of High Risk Areas........................................................................578.3 EMERGENCY RESPONSE.............................................................................................................................57

8.3.1 Access and Evacuation..........................................................................................................................58

8.3.2 Fire Response.........................................................................................................................................58

8.3.3 Water Supply.........................................................................................................................................59

8.4 TRAINING NEEDS.......................................................................................................................................598.5 VEGETATION (FUEL)MANAGEMENT........................................................................................................60

8.5.1

Principles of Fuel Management

.............................................................................................................

60

8.5.2 Maintenance..........................................................................................................................................68

9.0 REFERENCES....................................................................................................................................70

APPENDIX 1 FUEL TYPE DESCRIPTIONS.............................................................................................72

APPENDIX 2 PRINCIPLES OF FUEL BREAK DESIGN.........................................................................80

B.A. Blackwell & Associates Ltd. Page ii July 2010


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ListofFigures

Figure 1. Topographic relief representative of the Alberni Valley (left) and Sarita (right). Theview of the Alberni Valley is looking northwest from southern AlberniValley. The view of Sarita is looking northwest (Image Source: GoogleEarthPro, 2010). .............................................................................................................................. 4

Figure 2. Coulson Flying Tankers base on Sproat Lake. During the fire season planes arestationed on the lake or contracted out elsewhere in firefighting efforts. .............................. 8

Figure 3. Yearly variation in Drought Code seasonal (May-August) average and maximumvalues within the Alberni Valley and Franklin River Road study areapolygons, as described by the regional climate of the CWHxm subzone (1900 2003). ........................................................................................................................................... 13

Figure 4. Summary of seasonal (May-August) Danger Class IV and V and total Danger Classdays for the CWHxm subzone (1900 2003). ........................................................................... 14

Figure 5. Yearly variation in Drought Code seasonal (May-August) average and maximumvalues within the Sarita area, as described by the regional climate of theCWHvm subzone (1909 2003). ................................................................................................ 15

Figure 6. Summary of seasonal (May-August) Danger Class IV and V and total Danger Class

days Sarita, as represented by the CWHvm subzone (1909 2003). ..................................... 16

Figure 7. Historical average and maximum Drought Code values for the CWHvh subzone(1887 2002). ................................................................................................................................. 16

Figure 8. Summary of seasonal (May-August) Danger Class IV and V and total Danger Classdays for the CWHvh subzone (1887 2002). ............................................................................ 17

Figure 9. Graphical example showing variation in the definition of interface. ................................................ 24Figure 10. Firebrand caused ignitions: burning embers are carried ahead of the fire front and

alight on vulnerable building surfaces. ..................................................................................... 25Figure 11. Radiant heat and flame contact allows fire to spread from vegetation to structure

or from structure to structure. .................................................................................................... 25Figure 12. Wildland urban interface continuum. ................................................................................................. 26Figure 13. Illustration of the sub-components and components used to calculate the final

probability and consequence ratings within the Wildfire Risk ManagementStructure for the Alberni - Clayoquot Regional District. ........................................................ 29

Figure 14. The planning structure that translates the community risk profile into actions toreduce the risk faced by a community through elements of the CommunityWildfire Protection Plan. ............................................................................................................. 31

Figure 15. Photograph showing a home within the study area with flammable shake roofingmaterial and poor defensible space. .......................................................................................... 35

Figure 16. Example of a home within the study area with shake siding and little setback fromforested edges. .............................................................................................................................. 36

Figure 17. Example of aluminum roofing, but with an open deck and little setback tovegetation. ..................................................................................................................................... 36

Figure 18. An example of two roofing materials; the structure on the left has asphalt and the

structure on the right has flammable shake. ............................................................................ 37

Figure 19. Example of good FireSmart planning; 10m defensible space, non-flammableroofing and sideing, woodpile at least 10m from structure. In this case thepropane tank would be better located at least 10m form the structure. ............................... 37

Figure 20. Photo of hazardous C4 fuel type in the study area. ........................................................................... 45Figure 21. Example of a typical subdivision adjacent to hazardous C3 fuel type. .......................................... 46Figure 22. Example of municipal website providing fire education information

(http://www.chilliwack.com/main/page.cfm?id=627). ....................................................... 51Figure 23. High surface fuel loading under a forest canopy............................................................................... 62

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Figure 24. Comparisons showing stand level differences in the height to live crown. ................................... 63Figure 25. Comparisons showing stand level differences in crown closure. .................................................... 64Figure 26. Comparisons showing stand level differences in density and mortality. ...................................... 64Figure 27. Schematic showing the principles of thinning to reduce stand level hazard................................. 66Figure 28. Conceptual diagram of a shaded fuelbreak pre treatment and post treatment. ............................ 67Figure 29. Example of evenly stocked, moderate density second growth stand classified as a

C3 fuel type. .................................................................................................................................. 72Figure 30. Example of a high-density second growth stand of Douglas-fir classified as a C4

fuel type. ........................................................................................................................................ 73Figure 31. Example of mature forest of western hemlock and western red cedar classified as

a C5 fuel type ................................................................................................................................ 74Figure 32. Example of an open Douglas-fir and western redcedar forest classified as a C7

fuel type. ........................................................................................................................................ 75Figure 33. Moist rich site dominated by red alder classified as a D1 fuel type. ............................................ 76Figure 34. Mixed fir/cedar/sword fern site with a deciduous component of red alder and big

leaf maple classified as an M2 fuel type. ................................................................................ 77Figure 35. young regenerating coniferous plantation classified as M2R. ...................................................... 78Figure 36. Low volatility Shrub/Herb dominated fuel type classified as O1a. ............................................ 79

ListofMaps

Map 1. Shows the Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District study area, divided into four separatestudy area polygons. Each polygon includes the community/developmentwith a 2km buffer. .......................................................................................................................... 3

Map 2. Shows the BEC units occurring within the four study area polygons. ................................................ 10Map 3. A comparison of original MOFR fuel typing (left) and updated fuel typing (right) for

the study area. .............................................................................................................................. 19Map 4. Historic ignitions by cause within the study area. .................................................................................. 23Map 5. Map showing settlement density expressed as Consequence rating classes. ...................................... 28

Map 6. Final overlay of probability and consequence from the Wildfire Risk ManagementSystem. ........................................................................................................................................... 30

Map 7. Map showing ownership status (note: there are some errors in the availableownership data). ........................................................................................................................... 44

Map 8. Hazardous fuel types in relationship to land ownership within the project area. Notethat there are errors in the source ownership data .................................................................. 47

Map 9. Existing fuel breaks where deciduous, non fuels, water, or shrubby O1a occurs. ............................. 48

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B.A. Blackwell & Associates Ltd. Page v July 2010

ListofTables

Table 1. ACRD CWPP study area by community polygon. ................................................................................. 2Table 2. Study area TRIM mapsheets by polygon. ................................................................................................. 2Table 3. Summary of employment by industry type, as of 2006, for the ACRD. ............................................... 5Table 4. Study area by BEC subzone/ variant. ....................................................................................................... 9Table 5. Area summary of fuel types. .................................................................................................................... 18

Table 6. Historic fire ignition data by decade in the Alberni Valley and Franklin River Roadpolygons ........................................................................................................................................ 20

Table 7. Fire size by decade in the Alberni Valley and Franklin polygons. ...................................................... 21Table 8. Ignition source by fire size in the Alberni Valley and Franklin polygons. ........................................ 21Table 9. Summary of fire ignition cause by decade in the Sarita and Bamfield polygons. ............................. 22Table 10. Fire size summary by decade in the Sarita and Bamfield area (1950 2003). .................................. 22Table 11. Fire size summary by general ignition source for the Sarita and Bamfield area (1950

2003). ........................................................................................................................................... 22Table 12. Land ownership within the study area. ................................................................................................ 43


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1.0 Introduction

In2009B.A.BlackwellandAssociatesLtd.wereretainedtoassisttheAlberni Clayoquot

RegionalDistrict(hereinafterreferredtoasACRDortheRegionalDistrict)indevelopinga

CommunityWildfireProtectionPlan(CWPP)fordesignatedareaswithintheRegionalDistrict,

includingCommunityAssessmentAreas,UnincorporatedRuralAssessmentAreas(FireProtectionServiceAreasandUnincorporatedRuralCommunities),FirstNationsLands,and

otherremoteurbaninterfaceareas.Thisdocumentconsistsofplansandresourceinformationto

addresscommunitywildfireprotectionissuesspecifictothosecommunitiesidentifiedwithin

theACRDashighpriorityareas.FireSmartProtectingYourCommunityfromWildfire

(PartnersinProtection2004)wasusedtoguidetheprotectionplanningprocess.Withinthe

RegionalDistrict,theassessmentconsideredimportantelementsofcommunitywildfire

protectionthatincludedcommunicationandeducation,structureprotection,training,

emergencyresponse,andvegetationmanagement.

Thesocial,

economic

and

environmental

losses

associated

with

the

2003

and

2009

fire

seasons

emphasizedtheneedforgreaterconsiderationandduediligenceinregardtofireriskinthe

wildlandurbaninterface(WUI).InconsideringwildfireriskintheWUI,itisimportantto

understandthespecificriskprofileofagivencommunity,whichcanbedefinedbythe

probabilityandtheassociatedconsequenceofwildfirewithinthatcommunity.Whilethe

probabilityoffireincoastalcommunitiesissubstantiallylowerwhencomparedtotheinterior

ofBritishColumbia,theconsequencesofalargefirearelikelytobeverysignificantin

communitiesgivenvaluesatriskandenvironmentalconsiderations.

TheCWPPwillprovidetheACRDwithaframeworkthatcanbeusedtoreviewandassess

areasofidentifiedhighfirerisk.Additionally,theinformationcontainedinthisreportshould

helptoguidethedevelopmentofemergencyplans,emergencyresponse,communicationandeducationprograms,bylawdevelopmentinareasoffirerisk,andthemanagementofforest

landsadjacenttothecommunity.

Thescopeofthisprojectincludedthreedistinctphasesofwork:

PhaseIAssessmentoffireriskanddevelopmentofaWildfireRiskManagementSystem

(WRMS)tospatiallyquantifytheprobabilityandconsequenceoffire.

PhaseIIIdentificationofhazardousfueltypes.

PhaseIII

Development

of

the

Plan,

which

outlines

measures

to

mitigate

the

identified

risk

throughstructureprotection,emergencyresponse,training,communication,andeducation.

B.A. Blackwell & Associates Ltd. Page 1 July 2010


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2.0 AlberniClayoquotRegionalDistrict

2.1 Overview

TheAlberniClayoquotRegionalDistrictislocatedonwestcentralVancouverIsland.The

RegionalDistrictencompassestheTofinoareainthenorth,theAlberniValleyinthemiddle,andtheBamfieldareainthesouth.TheRegionalDistrictis6,913.9squarekilometersinsize.

TheACRDislargelyrural;only0.6%ofthetotalareaismadeupofthethreelargest

communitiesofPortAlberni,TofinoandUcluelet.Theremainingareaiscomprisedof

numeroussmallercoastalcommunitiessuchasBamfield,andthecommunitiessurrounding

PortAlberni;undevelopedland;windingroadswithscatteredhousing;andboatonlyaccess

homesandcabins.

ThescopeofthisdocumentislimitedtofourareaswithintheACRDthatencompassthehigh

prioritycommunitiesidentifiedbytheACRD:AlberniValley,FranklinRiverRoad,Sarita,and

Bamfield.These

four

areas

together

make

up

the

entire

study

area,

and

are

identified

as

separatepolygonsinsubsequentmaps(Map1).

Thetotalstudyareais31,261ha;thelargestpolygoninthestudyarea,bothinareaand

population,istheAlberniValley,whichcomprises68%ofthetotalstudyarea(Table1).

FranklinRiverRoad,SaritaandBamfieldcompriseapproximately5%,15%and12%ofthe

studyarea,respectively.

Table1.ACRDCWPPstudyareabycommunity

polygon.

Table2.StudyareaTRIM1mapsheetsby

polygon.

ACRDStudyArea

Polygon Area(ha)

AlberniValley 21,393

FranklinRiverRoad 1,361

Sarita 4,607

Bamfield 3,900

Total 31,261

Bamfield Sarita

Franklin

River

Road

Alberni

Valley

92C.075 92C.085 92F.006 92F.016

92C.085 92C.086 92F.007 92F.017

92C.095 92F.016 92F.025

92C.096 92F.017 92F.026

92F.027

92F.036

92F.037

92F.046

1Provincialstandardbasemappingunit


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Map1.ShowstheAlberniClayoquotRegionalDistrictstudyarea,dividedintofourseparatestudy

areapolygons.Eachpolygonincludesthecommunity/developmentwitha2kmbuffer.



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2.2 Topography

TheAlberniClayoquotRegionalDistrictistopographicallydiverse,extendingfromsealevelto

alpinemountainpeaksexceeding1,600m(Figure1).Thestudyareaislimitedtolowtomid

mountainelevations.

Figure1.TopographicreliefrepresentativeoftheAlberniValley(left)andSarita(right).Theviewof

theAlberniValleyislookingnorthwestfromsouthernAlberniValley.TheviewofSaritaislooking

northwest(ImageSource:GoogleEarthPro,2010).

2.3 Population

According

to

BC

Stats

Regional

District

Profile,

ACRDs

population

was

estimated

at

31,2802

.

Thepopulationhasbeenfairlystableoflate,increasingby0.6%since2006anddecreasingby

0.3%overthelasttenyearscomparedwith1.7%increaseand1.0%increaseprovinciallyforthe

sametimeperiods.ThemajorityofthepopulationoftheDistrictresidesinPortAlberniandthe

outlyingcommunities.

Asof2006,therewere12,870occupiedprivatedwellingsthroughouttheentireDistrict,the

majorityofwhichareconcentratedinPortAlberni.OutsidethemunicipalityofPortAlberni,

manydwellingsarelocatedonsmallacreagesorscatteredthroughrelativelyisolatedareas.

Since2002,propertyvalueshavebeenrisingapproximatelyonpacewiththeprovincial

average.

Theeconomyisdrivenlargely(63.9%oftheworkforce)intheprovisionofservices,although

thetopsingleindustryasof2006ismanufacturing,whichemploys14.3%ofthetotallabour

2BCStatsRegionalDistrict23StatisticalProfile2008


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force(Table3).Retailtradeandresourcebasedindustries,suchasforestryaddcomma

agriculture,hunting,andfishingalsoprovideasignificantportionoftheRegionalDistricts

employment(Table3).Althoughthereisarichhistoryinforestryandrelatedmanufacturingin

theACRD,therehavebeenrecenteffortstodiversifytheeconomywithtourism,marine

industries,fishprocessing,andthearts3.Thenaturalenvironment,itsrelatedvalues,andthe

resultanttourismnowformthebasisforasignificantportionoftheACRDseconomy.

Table3.Summaryofemploymentbyindustrytype,asof2006,fortheACRD4.

ACRD BC

TotalLabourForce 15,070 100.0% 2,193,115

OtherServices 3,810 25.3% 451,905

Manufacturing 2,155 14.3% 189,120

Retailtrade 1,740 11.5% 248,950

Businessservices 1,715 11.4% 436,665

Agriculture,forestry,

and

other

resource

based

industries1,475 9.8% 107,760

Healthcareandsocialservices 1,445 9.6% 213,085

Construction 1,160 7.7% 166,100

Educationalservices 925 6.1% 152,565

Financeandrealestate 500 3.3% 134,940

Wholesaletrade 150 1.0% 92,020

Thenational,provincialandregionalparksintheACRDreceivethousandsofvisitorsannually.

Themost

popular

of

the

parks

are

Mount

Arrowsmith

Regional

Park,

Sproat

Lake,

and

Stamp

FallsProvincialParks,aswellasPacificRimNationalPark.

2.3.1 Alberni Valley

TheAlberniValleyhasthegreatestpopulationofthefourstudyareapolygons.TheCityofPort

Albernispopulationis17,548,asof20065,whichmakesupmorethanhalfofthetotal

populationoftheACRD.TheAlberniValleypolygonincludesapproximately300membersof

theHupacasathFirstNationandapproximately900membersoftheTseshahtFirstNation.

TherearefourFirstNationsreservesintheAlberniValleyarea:AlberniIR2(PollysPoint)6,

AhahswinisIR1,KlehkootIR2,andTsahahehIR1.

3http://www.portalberni.ca/files/CityClerk_pdfs/CPA_2008_Annual_Report.pdf4http://www.bcstats.gov.bc.ca/data/cen01/profiles/59023000.pdf5http://www.bcstats.gov.bc.ca/data/pop/pop/mun/mun1921_2006.asp6PersonalcommunicationwithJaneJones,OfficeServicesAdministrator,TseshahtFirstNation,July14,2010


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2.3.2 Franklin River Road

TheFranklinRiverRoadpolygonencompassesthegeographicalareaoftheFranklinRiver

Estuaryandhasanoperatingsmallmillandlogdump.

2.3.3

Sarita

TheSaritastudyareaiscomprisedofthesmallcommunityofSaritaandtwoFirstNations

reserves,NumukamisIR1andDochsuppleIR3.

2.3.4 Bamfield

BamfieldislocatedintheheartofthePacificRimNationalParkontheBarkleySound.The

townisrenownedforitsnaturalbeautyandoutdoorrecreationalopportunities,suchassport

fishing,backpacking,andkayaking.ItisthenorthernterminusoftheWestCoastTrailandhas

apopulationofapproximately250persons7.TherearethreeFirstNationscommunitieswithin

theBamfield

study

area:

Anacla

IR

12,

Keeshan

IR

9,

and

Sachsa

IR

4.

7http://www.bcstats.gov.bc.ca/data/cen06/dpl2006.asp


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2.4 Infrastructure

2.4.1 Alberni Valley

TheAlberniValleyRegionalAirportservicestheregionstourism,fishing,andforestry

industries,as

well

as

recreational

aviation

and

helicopter

companies.

The

airport

also

serves

as

theMinistryofForestsandRange(MOFR)WildfireManagementBranchPortAlbernifirebase,

whichisstaffedduringfireseasonbyoneunitcrewof20wildlandfirefighters,the

Thunderbirds.MartinMarsconvertedwaterbombersareownedandoperatedbyCoulson

FlyingTankers,usedinprovincial,national,andinternationalfirefightingefforts,andarebased

atSproatLake8(Figure2).

AttheheadoftheAlberniinletistheCityofPortAlberni.PortAlberniistheeconomiccenter

fortheAlberniValleyandwestcoast.PortAlberniisthehostcommunitytotheWestCoast

GeneralHospitalandtheofficesoftheAlberniClayoquotRegionalDistrict.Amajorityofthe

developedlandsintheAlberniValleyareprotectedbyoneoffourAlberniValleyfire

departments.ThePortAlberniFireDepartment(PAFD)providesfireprotectionwithintheCity

ofPortAlberniandseveralcontractareasoutsideoftheCity.Somedevelopedareasandmuch

oftheundevelopedlandsinandaroundtheAlberniValleyarenotprovidedwithlocal

governmentfireprotection.

8http://www.martinmars.com/firefighting.htm


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Figure2.CoulsonFlyingTankersbaseonSproatLake.Duringthefireseasonplanesare

stationedonthelakeorcontractedoutelsewhereinfirefightingefforts.

TheCityofPortAlberniobtainsitswaterfromChinaCreekandBainbridgeLake,butalsohasa

waterintakeontheSomassRiverthatcanbeactivatedduringpeakwaterusedemands.Within

thecity,thereare5pumpstations,3chlorinationstations,aswellas5coveredreservoirs,allof

whicharevitaltointerfacefirefightingefforts9.Thecitywaterdistributionsystemisnow

entirelygravityfed.Backuppumpsareavailableduringperiodsofhighpressuredemand.In

theeventofpowerfailure,dieselpoweredpumpsautomaticallybeginoperatingtoprovide

continuousflow.

TheSproatLakeVolunteerFireDepartmentreliesontankersforwaterdelivery.Ithasreceived

SuperiorTankerShuttleAccreditationbytheCGIFireUnderwriters.

BeaverCreekandCherryCreekFireDepartmentsutilizehydrantsthroughoutmostoftheirfire

responseareas.Bothhaveareasthatarenotprotectedbyhydrants.

Firedepartments,hospital,water,andpowerinfrastructurearefundamentaltoemergency

responseinPortAlberni,theAlberniValley,andinneighbouringcommunitiesthatdependon

PortAlberniforincidentsupportandemergencyresponse.

2.4.2 Franklin River Road

TheinfrastructureintheFranklinRiverRoadpolygonislimitedtoanoperationalsawmilland

logdump.

2.4.3 Sarita

TheSaritapolygonhasthePoettNookMarinaandCampground,aswellashomesand

structuresscatteredthroughoutthearea.

2.4.4 Bamfield

TheBamfieldFireHall,firetruck,fireboat,andfireequipmentareintegraltocommunity

firefightingefforts.Bamfieldhasaprivateairstripandhelicopterpad,ownedandoperatedby

theHawkeyeMarineGroup 10.AnoutposthospitalprovidesacutecareservicesforBamfield

andthesurroundingcommunities.

9CityofPortAlberniEngineeringDepartment(http://www.portalberni.ca/files/u3/WaterInfrastructureInv.pdf)10http://www.hawkeyemarinegroup.com/bamfield_airstrip.shtml


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ThecommunitiesofBamfieldandAnacla(HuuayahtFirstNations)arewithinthestudyarea,

asistheirnewHuuayahtHouse11.

TheBamfieldWaterSystemiscomprisedofawatersourceandintakestructure,anunderwater

transmissionlinetothechlorinationandpumphouse,twosteelstoragereservoirs,water

meters,and

hydrants12.

The

System

provides

water

to

the

residents

of

East

and

West

Bamfield

andthesurroundingcommunities,FirstNationsreserves,andfishhatcheries.Previous

rupturesandleaksinwaterlinesandpoweroutageshavecausedmajordisruptionstothe

provisionofpotablewatertotheresidents.

2.5 EnvironmentalValues

Environmentalvaluesarehighthroughouttheentirestudyarea,aswellasthroughoutthe

Alberni ClayoquotRegionalDistrict.ThereareProvincialredandbluelistedspeciesand

ecologicalcommunities.

ThemajorityofthestudyareaisencompassedbytheCoastalWesternHemlock(CWH)biogeoclimatic(BEC)zone,withanegligibleamountofareaintheMountainHemlockZone.

Withinthestudyarea,therearefiveuniquesubzones(Table4).Thevastmajority(99.5%)ofthe

studyareaisdefinedbyjustthreesubzonesoftheCWHZone:VeryWetMaritime(vm),Very

WetHypermaritime(vh),andtheVeryDryMaritime(xm)(Map2).

Table4.StudyareabyBECsubzone/variant.

BECSubzoneand

VariantArea(ha) %ofStudyArea

CWHvm1 3,681 11.8

CWHvh1

4,898

15.7

CWHxm1 6,370 20.5

CWHxm2 16,003 51.4

CWHmm2 136 0.4

CWHvm2 6 0.1

MHmm1 15 0.1

Total 31,109 100.0

11http://huuayaht.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=section&id=4&Itemid=5612http://www.acrd.bc.ca/cms/wpattachments/wpID78atID558.pdf


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Map2.ShowstheBECunitsoccurringwithinthefourstudyareapolygons.



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CWHvh

TheCWHvhoccursinlowelevations(0200m)onVancouverIsland.Theproximitytothe

PacificOceancreatesaclimateofmoderatetemperaturesandrelativelyhighlevelsof

precipitation,ofwhichverylittlefallsintheformofsnow.Fog,cloudsandlightrainoccur

oftenthroughouttheyear13.

CWHvm

TheCWHvmoccursinlowtomoderateelevationsandischaracterizedbyawet,humidclimate

withhighlevelsofprecipitationrarelyfallingassnowexceptathigherelevations.Growing

seasonsarelongandgrowingseasonmoisturedeficitsarerare14.

CWHxm

TheCWHxm1occursonVancouverIslandatlowerelevations(0700m)andischaracterized

bywarm,drysummersandmoist,mildwinterswithrelativelylittleprecipitationfallingas

snow.Growingseasonsarelongandgrowingseasonmoisturedeficitsoccur(GreenandKrajina

1994).

3.0 FireEnvironment

3.1 FireWeather

TheCanadianForestFireDangerRatingSystem(CFFDRS),developedbytheCanadian

ForestryService,isusedtoassessfiredangerandpotentialfirebehaviour.TheMinistryof

ForestsandRangemaintainsanetworkoffireweatherstationsduringthefireseasonthatis

usedtodeterminefiredangeronforestlandswithinthecommunity.Theinformationis

commonlyused

by

municipalities

and

regional

districts

to

monitor

fire

weather

information

providedbytheMOFRWildfireManagementBranchtodeterminehazardratingsand

associatedfirebansandclosureswithintheirrespectivemunicipalities.Keyfireweather

parameterssummarizedaspartoftheanalysisinclude:

Drought Code (DC): The Drought Code represents the moisture in deep, compact

organicmatterwithanominaldepthofabout18cmandadryfuelloadof25kg/m2.Itis

ameasureoflongtermdroughtasitrelatestofirebehaviour.

DaysaboveDangerClassRatingIVandV:TheDangerClassRatingisderivedfromfire

weatherindicesandhas5classes:1)VeryLowDanger;2)LowDanger;3)Moderate

Danger;4)HighDanger;and5)ExtremeDanger.

13http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/hre/becweb/Downloads/Downloads_SubzoneReports/CWHvh1.pdf14http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/hre/becweb/Downloads/Downloads_SubzoneReports/CWHvm1.pdf


19/91


Itisimportanttounderstandthelikelihoodofexposuretoperiodsofhighfiredanger,defined

asDangerClassIV(high)andV(extreme),inordertodetermineappropriateprevention

programs,levelsofresponse,andmanagementstrategies.ADroughtCodethatexceeds350is

consideredhighandisassociatedwithhighfirebehaviour.ADroughtCodeexceeding500is

consideredextremeandfiresburningundersuchconditionsoftenexhibitextremefire

behaviour.Firedangerwithinthestudyareavarieschieflyduetoclimaticfactors.

ThepolygonscanbeclearlyclassifiedbyBECsubzone,forthepurposeoffireweather

behaviourandfiredangeranalysis:

AlberniValleyCWHxm

FranklinRiverRoadCWHxm

SaritaCWHvm

Bamfield CWHvh

3.1.1 Alberni Valley and Franklin River Road

Figure3isacompilationofavailableweatherstationdatawithintheCWHxm(representativeof

theAlberniValleyandFranklinRiverRoadportionsofthestudyarea).Thedatasetdatesback

to1900andprovidesasummaryofaverageandmaximumDroughtCodesfromMaythrough

toAugustofeachyear.TheaverageseasonalDCovertheperiodofdatais252,althoughduring

highfireseason(typicallylateJulythroughAugust),DroughtCodevaluescommonlyexceed

500.Duringthisperiodfiredangerinthestudyareahastypicallybeenhighorextreme.Every

yearexceptone,theCWHxmexperiencedDCmaximumswellabove350,mostofwhich

reachedorexceeded500.



20/91


CWHxm

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

900

1000

1900

1910

1920

1930

1940

1950

1960

1970

1980

1990

2000

DroughtCode(DC)

AvgOfDC

MaxOfDC

Figure3.YearlyvariationinDroughtCodeseasonal(MayAugust)averageandmaximumvalues

withintheAlberniValleyandFranklinRiverRoadstudyareapolygons,asdescribedbytheregional

climateoftheCWHxmsubzone(19002003).

AsummaryofDangerClassdaysprovidesasimilarcomparisontoDroughtCodeanalysis

(Figure4).Onaverage,therewere58DangerClassIVorVdaysperfireseason(Maythrough

August).ThemostDangerClassdaysoccurredin1931,whentherewere91.In2003,therewereonly9DangerClassdaysduringthefireseason.Firedangerwithinthestudyareacanvary

considerablyfromseasontoseason.



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CWHxm

-

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

1900

1904

1908

1912

1916

1920

1924

1928

1932

1936

1940

1944

1948

1952

1956

1960

1964

1968

1972

1976

1980

1984

1988

1992

1996

2000

Year

DangerClassDays

IV V

Figure4.Summaryofseasonal(MayAugust)DangerClassIVandVandtotalDangerClassdaysfortheCWHxmsubzone(19002003).

3.1.2 Sarita

TheCWHvmgenerallyexperiencesfiredangerintermediatetothoseinthedrierCWHxmand

thewetterCWHvh.ThedatasetfortheCWHvmdatesto1909,overwhichtimetheaverageDC

is136(Figure5).ThehighestDCoccurred1988,whenthemaximumreached762.Theseasonal

averagewashighestin1958at266.

TheaveragenumberofDangerClassdaysperfireseasonoverthedataperiodis26days

(Figure6).ThemostDangerClassdaysfortheCWHvmBECsubzoneoccurredin1922,when

therewere66,28ofwhichwereDangerClassV.



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CWHvm

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

900

1905

1915

1925

1935

1945

1955

1965

1975

1985

1995

2005

DroughtCode(DC)

AvgOfDC

MaxOfDC

Figure5.YearlyvariationinDroughtCodeseasonal(MayAugust)averageandmaximumvalues

withintheSaritaarea,asdescribedbytheregionalclimateoftheCWHvmsubzone(19092003).

CWHvm

-

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

1909

1913

1917

1921

1925

1929

1933

1937

1941

1945

1949

1953

1957

1961

1965

1969

1973

1977

1981

1985

1989

1993

1997

2001

Year

DangerClassDays

IV V



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Figure6.Summaryofseasonal(MayAugust)DangerClassIVandVandtotalDangerClassdays

Sarita,asrepresentedbytheCWHvmsubzone(19092003).

3.1.3 Bamfield

TheCWHvhexperienceslessextremefireweatherthanboththeCWHxmandtheCWHvm,as

showninFigure7andFigure8.ThehistoricaverageseasonalDCis117andonly32seasonsin

thepast115yearshavehadmaximumseasonalDroughtCodesthatexceed500(Figure7).

TherehavebeennoyearsinthehistoricalrecordwhentheaverageseasonalDCexceeds350.

ThehistoricaveragenumberofDangerClassIVandVdaysis15(Figure8).Therehavebeen

veryfewyearswithmorethanfourDangerClassVdaysinoneseason.

CWHvh

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

1885

1905

1925

1945

1965

1985

2005

DroughtCode(DC)

AvgOfDC

MaxOfDC

Figure7.HistoricalaverageandmaximumDroughtCodevaluesfortheCWHvhsubzone(18872002).



24/91



CWHvh

-

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

50

1887

1893

1897

1901

1905

1909

1913

1917

1921

1925

1929

1933

1937

1941

1945

1949

1953

1957

1961

1965

1969

1973

1977

1981

1985

1989

1993

1997

2001

Year

DangerClassDays

IV V

Figure8.Summaryofseasonal(MayAugust)DangerClassIVandVandtotalDangerClassdaysfor

theCWHvhsubzone(18872002).

3.2 Fuels

FuelclassificationwasbasedontheCFFDRS,VegetationResourceInventory(VRI)forestcover

data,WesternForestProductsforestcoverdata15,IslandTimberlandsforestcoverdata16,aerial

orthophotographs,andfueltypeattributescollectedinthefield(Table5,Map3).Toconfirm

forestcoverderivedfueltypingandaidinpolygondelineation,standandfuelsdatawas

collectedduringfieldwork.Fieldcheckswerelocatedinthefourcorestudyareas.Atotalof256

fieldcheckswerecompleted.Thisdatawasincorporatedintoexistingfueltypingfortheregion.

Foreachfueltypeidentifiedinthefield,abestapproximationoftheCFFDRSclassificationwas

assignedandwassupportedwithasummaryofdetailedattributes.TheMinistryofForestsand

Rangefueltypingwasimproveduponandadjustedtoincorporatelocalvariation(Map3).

DescriptionsofthemainCFFDRSfueltypesusedinthisanalysisareprovidedinAppendix1

FuelTypeDescriptions.

15ProvidedbyP.Bryant,WesternForestProductsLtd.16ProvidedbyS.Mjaaland,IslandTimberlandsLP


25/91



3.2.1 Fuel Type Summary

Table5summarizesthefueltypesandareas.Adescriptionofeachfueltypeshowninthestudy

areaisprovidedinAppendix1.

Table5.Areasummaryoffueltypes.

Fuel

Type

No

data

01a C3 C4 C5 C7 D1 M2 M2R Non

Fuel

Total

Area

(ha)

8 2,437 8,784 2,274 4,079 406 958 4,052 1,969 6,318 31,284

%Total 0.03 7.8 28.1 7.3 13.0 1.3 3.1 13.0 6.3 20.2 100


26/91


Map3.AcomparisonoforiginalMOFRfueltyping(left)andupdatedfueltyping(right)forthestudyarea.

B.A. Blackwell & Associates Ltd. Page 19


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3.3 HistoricIgnitions

TheMOFRfirereportingsystemwasusedtocompileadatabaseoffiresbackto1950inthe

studyarea.Map4showstheignitionlocationsfortheentirestudyareaandhighlightsvisibly

thedifferenceinfirehistorybetweenthemorepopulatedanddrierareasintheAlberniValley

asopposedtomoreruralareasandmoisterclimatesdowntheinlet.

3.3.1 Alberni Valley and Franklin River Road

Table6summarizesthefires,bysizeandcausethathaveoccurredbetween1950and2008inthe

AlberniValleyandFranklinRiverRoadareas.Themostprevalentsourcesofignitionwere

miscellaneoushumanignitions(23%),smokers(22%),andindustrialfireuse(16.5%).Thetotal

numberoffiresduringthisperiodwas591,ofwhich97%weretheresultofhumanignition

(Table8).Theremaining3%offireswereignitedbylightning.Themostfiresonrecordper

decadeoccurredduringthe1950s(23%),followedcloselyby2000s(21%).The1980shadthe

fewestfiresperdecade,withonly67ignitions.Theaveragenumberoffiresperyearbydecade

isasfollows:19505913.6;1960699.0;19707910;1980896.7;199019997.7;200008

13.7.Ninetyeightpercentofallfiresthatburnedbetween1950and2008weresmallerthanfour

hectaresand112(or19%ofthetotal)ofthoseignitionswerelessthan0.01hainsize(Table7).

Therehavebeen7fireswithintheAlberniValleyandFranklinRiverRoadpolygonsthat

burnedanareagreaterthan4ha,allofwhichwerehumancaused.

Table6.HistoricfireignitiondatabydecadeintheAlberniValleyandFranklinRiverRoadpolygons

Decade 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 Total

Campfire 2 4 10 5 9 21 51

EquipmentUse 3 2 0 6 2 9 22

FireUse 21 4 7 14 8 44 98

Incendiary 1 4 2 7 11 10 35

JuvenileFireSetter 11 16 26 8 18 5 84

Lightning 3 0 3 2 2 2 12

Miscellaneous 30 41 13 9 21 24 138

Railroads 5 1 1 3 1 1 12

Smoker 60 17 37 13 2 3 132

Unknown 0 0 0 0 3 4 7

Total 136 89 99 67 77 123 591



28/91


Table7.FiresizebydecadeintheAlberniValleyandFranklinpolygons.

Decade 25

1950 0 131 4 1 0

1960 0 88 1 0 0

1970 0 99 0 0 0

1980 4 62 0 1 0

1990 30 47 0 0 0

2000 78 45 0 0 0

Total 112 472 5 2 0

Table8.IgnitionsourcebyfiresizeintheAlberniValleyandFranklinpolygons.

Size

Class

(ha)

Human

%

Human

Lightning

%

Lightning Unknown

%

Unknown

Total

25 0 0.0 0 0.0 0 0.0 0

Total 572 96.8 12 2.0 7 1.2 591

3.3.2 Sarita and Bamfield

Since1950,theSaritaandBamfieldareashavehad10ignitions,farfewerthanAlberniValleyandFranklinRiverRoadareas.Fiftypercentoftheignitionswereindustrialignitions(fireuse

andequipmentuse)and30%werelightningstarts(Table9).Twentypercentofthefireswere

causedbysmokersandmiscellaneoushumanignitionsources.The1980shad6fires,the

highestnumberoffiresbydecade.Therehavenotbeenanyrecordedfiresinthesepolygons

since1997(Table10).Ninetypercentoftheignitionswerebetween0.1haand4hainsize(Table

10).Thelargestfirewas36hainsize,whichignitedin1985fromindustrialfireuse(Table11).



29/91


Table9.SummaryoffireignitioncausebydecadeintheSaritaandBamfieldpolygons.

Decade 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 Total

Campfire 0

EquipmentUse 1 1

FireUse 3 1 4Incendiary 0

JuvenileFireSetter 0

Lightning 3 3

Miscellaneous 1 1

Railroads 0

Smoker 1 1

Unknown 0

Total 0 1 1 7 1 0 10

Table10.FiresizesummarybydecadeintheSaritaandBamfieldarea(19502003).

Decade 25

1950

1960 1

1970 1

1980 6 1

1990 1

2000

Total 0 9 0 0 1

Table11.FiresizesummarybygeneralignitionsourcefortheSaritaandBamfieldarea(19502003).

SizeClass

(ha) Human

%

Human Lightning

%

Lightning Unknown

%

Unknown Total

25 1 10.0 0.0 0.0 1

Total 7 70.0 3 30.0 0 0.0 10



30/91


Map4.Historicignitionsbycausewithinthestudyarea.



31/91


4.0 TheWildlandUrbanInterface

Theclassicdefinitionofwildlandurbaninterface(WUI)istheplacewheretheforestmeetsthe

community.OtherconfigurationsoftheWUIcanbedescribedasintermixed.Intermixedareas

includesmaller,moreisolateddevelopmentsthatareembeddedwithintheforest.Anexample

ofanintermixedinterfaceisshowninFigure9.

Ineachofthesecases,firehastheabilitytospreadfromtheforestintothecommunityorfrom

thecommunityoutintotheforest.Althoughthesetwoscenariosarequitedifferent,theyareof

equalimportancewhenconsideringinterfacefirerisk.WithintheRegionalDistrict,the

probabilityofafiremovingoutofthecommunityandintotheforestisequalorgreatertothe

probabilityoffiremovingfromtheforestintothecommunity.Regardlessofwhichscenario

occurs,therewillbeconsequencesfortheRegionalDistrictandthiswillhaveanimpactonthe

wayinwhichthecommunityplansandpreparesforinterfacefires.

Interface

Intermix

Figure9.Graphicalexampleshowingvariationinthedefinitionofinterface.

4.1 VulnerabilityoftheWildlandUrbanInterfacetoFire

FiresspreadingintotheWUIfromtheforestcanimpacthomesintwodistinctways:1)by

sparksorburningemberscarriedbythewindorconvectionthatstartnewfiresbeyondthe

zoneofdirectignition(mainadvancingfirefront)andalightonvulnerableconstruction

materials(i.e.roofing,siding,decksetc.)(Figure10);2)throughdirectflamecontact,convective

heating,conductiveheatingorradiantheatingalongtheedgeofaburningfirefront(burning



32/91


forest)orthroughstructuretostructurecontact.Firecanigniteavulnerablestructurewhenthe

structureisincloseproximity(within10metersoftheflame)ofeithertheforestedgeora

burninghouse(Figure11).

Figure10.Firebrandcausedignitions:burningembersarecarriedaheadofthefirefrontandalighton

vulnerablebuildingsurfaces.

Figure11.Radiantheatandflamecontactallowsfiretospreadfromvegetationtostructureorfrom

structuretostructure.

Thewildlandurbaninterfacecontinuum(Figure12)summarizesthemainoptionsavailablefor

addressingWUIfireriskintheCommunityWildfireProtectionPlanningprocess.



33/91


Figure12.Wildlandurbaninterfacecontinuum.

Theappropriate

management

response

to

agiven

wildfire

risk

profile

is

based

on

the

combinationandlevelofemphasisofseveralkeyelements:

Communicationandeducation

Emergencyresponse

Training

Structureprotection

Vegetationmanagement

Forexample,inaninterfaceareawithahighriskprofile,equalweightmaybegiventoall

elements.Alternatively,inthissamehighriskexample,activeinterventionthroughvegetation

managementmaybegivenahigheremphasis.Thischangeinemphasisisbasedonthevalues

atrisk(consequence)andthelevelofdesiredprotectionrequired.Inalowrisksituationthe

emphasismaybeoncommunicationandeducationcombinedwithemergencyresponseand

training.Inotherwords,avarietyofmanagementresponsesisappropriatewithinagiven

communityandthesecanbedeterminedbasedontheCommunityRiskProfileaspresentedin

Section5.0.



34/91


Map5showstheprimaryinterfaceinthestudyarea.TheintermixareasoftheACRD,where

developmentisembeddedinforestareofconsiderableconcernassafetyissuessuchas

adequacyofaccessandevacuationrouteshavenotbeenaddressed,andFireSmartprinciples

arenotcurrentlyincorporated.



35/91


Map5.MapshowingsettlementdensityexpressedasConsequenceratingclasses.



36/91


5.0 CommunityRiskProfile

TheWildfireRiskManagementSystem(WRMS)developedinsupportofthisplanidentified

thattheRegionalDistricthasamoderatetohighprobabilityofwildfire(Map6)withmoderate

tohighconsequences.Theareasofhighestprobabilityandconsequencearelocatedwhere

interfacedensityishigherandthewildlandurbaninterfaceoccurs.Publicsafety,aswellasimportantvalues,facilitiesandstructures,maybeseverelyimpactedbyamajorfireinthearea.

Areaswithmoderatetohighprobabilityandconsequenceareprimarilylocatedinthemost

heavilysettledareasnearhazardousfueltypes.

TheWRMSsystemisbasedonaspatialmodeldevelopedinaGeographicInformationSystem

(GIS)format.Individualpolygonsareweightedforeachsubcomponent(Figure13).Using

algorithms,thesubcomponentsarecombinedtoproducecomponentweightingswhicharethen

furtherprocessedtoderiveprobabilityandconsequenceratings.

Figure13.Illustrationofthesubcomponentsandcomponentsusedtocalculatethefinalprobability

andconsequenceratingswithintheWildfireRiskManagementStructurefortheAlberni Clayoquot

RegionalDistrict.



37/91


Map6.FinaloverlayofprobabilityandconsequencefromtheWildfireRiskManagementSystem.


38/91


6.0 CommunityWildfireProtectionPlanningProcess

Figure14demonstrateshowthedevelopmentofacommunityriskprofileisaddressedbythe

individualelementsoftheCWPPplanningprocess.Theendresultistheimplementationof

recommendations

using

the

various

planning

tools

to

lower

wildfire

risk

faced

by

community.

Figure14.Theplanningstructurethattranslatesthecommunityriskprofileintoactionstoreducethe

riskfacedbyacommunitythroughelementsoftheCommunityWildfireProtectionPlan.



39/91


7.0 ActionPlan

TheActionPlanconsistsofthekeyelementsoftheCommunityWildfireProtectionPlanand

providesrecommendationstoaddresseachelement.Eachoftheseelementsisfurtherexplained

in

Section

8.0

Community

Wildfire

Protection

Planning

Background,

which

provides

backgroundinformationtosupporttheActionPlan.Section8.0isintendedtoprovidegeneral

informationabouteachelementconsideredincommunitywildfireprotectionplanning;itisnot

intendedtoprovideinformationspecifictothecommunity.

7.1 CommunicationandEducation

7.1.1 Objectives

Toeducateresidentsandbusinessesonactionstheycantaketoreducefireriskonprivate

propertyandonpublicproperty.

Toestablishasenseofhomeownerandvisitorresponsibilityforreducingfirehazards.

Toraisetheawarenessofelectedofficialsastotheresourcesrequiredandtheriskthat

wildfireposestocommunities.

Tomakeresidentsandbusinessesawarethattheircommunitiesareinterfacecommunities

andtoeducatethemabouttheassociatedrisks.

ToincreaseawarenessofthelimitationofDistrictandprovincialfirefightingresourcesto

encourageproactiveandselfreliantattitudes.

Towork

diligently

to

reduce

ignitions

during

periods

of

high

fire

danger.

Todevelopacommunityeducationprograminthenexttwoyears.

ToestablishaFireSmartpilotprojectinthenextfiveyears.

ToenhancetheRegionalDistrictswebsitetobettercommunicatewildfireprotection

planningtothecommunityinthenexttwoyears.

Toimprovefiredangerandevacuationsignageinthenexttwoyears.

7.1.2 Issues

CurrentlythereisminimalinformationontheRegionalDistrictswebsite.

Thereiscurrentlyalackofsignageonmajorroutesthroughthecommunity.

FireSmartprincipleshavebeenrecentlyintroducedatlocalfallfairsandfiredepartment

openhouses,howevertherearelimitedpersonnelwiththebackgroundtodeliverFireSmart

information.



40/91


7.1.3 Recommendations Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District

Recommendation1: TheRegionalDistrictshouldconsiderworkingwiththeMOFRto

enhanceeducationandcommunication.Publiceducationprogramscouldbeenhancedby:

1)integratingaunitofFireSmartandwildfiresafetyintotheelementaryschool

curriculumforlocalchildren,inconjunctionwithoradditiontothecurrentcurriculumprovided(FireSafetyHouseandFirePreventionWeek);2)creatingaFireSmartsticker

programwhereFireDepartmentmembersattendresidencesandcertifythemasmeeting

FireSmartguidelines.

Recommendation2: TheRegionalDistrictshouldconsiderdevelopingacommunication

plantooutlinethepurpose,methodsanddesiredresultsofcommunicationandeducation

inthecommunity.Educationalinformationandcommunicationtoolsneedtobe

stakeholderspecific.Toestablisheffectivecommunicationwithintargetgroups,theplan

shouldidentify

spokespersons

who

can

best

establish

communication

ties

with

target

audiencesandprovidetheeducationalinformationrequired.

Recommendation3: TheRegionalDistrictshouldinvestigatethepotentialforworking

withlocaldeveloperstoconstructaFireSmartshowhomeorpublicbuildingwithFireSmart

landscapingasatooltoeducateandcommunicatetheprinciplesofFireSmarttothepublic.

ThePortAlberniFireDepartmenthasexpressedinterestinsettingupaFireSmartpilot

projectattheMcLeanMillsite.Thisshouldbesupported.

Recommendation4: Thestandardforwebsiteinformationaboutfireshouldincludean

outlineofcommunityfirerisksandfiredanger.Informationshouldincludefirebylaws,

campfirebansandwildfirehazardratings,aswellasFireSmartinformation

Recommendation5: TheRegionalDistrictusesradioandlocalprintmediato

communicatefiredangernewstothecommunityviathePortAlberniFireDepartment.

Theyshouldcontinuetousethisandotherlocalmediasuchaspamphletmailoutstodeliver

FireSmarteducationalmaterialsandtocommunicateinformationonfiredangerduring

periodsofhighandextremefiredanger.

Recommendation6: Signageconsistingofcurrentfiredanger,campfirebansandgeneral

warningsregardingfiresafetyshouldbepostedalongmainroutesthroughouttheRegional

District.



41/91


Recommendation7: TheRegionalDistrictandFireDepartmentshouldtrainadditional

personneltodeliverFireSmartinformationtothepublic.

Recommendation8: TheBamfield,PortAlberni,andotherlocalFireDepartmentsshould

workwiththeACRD,BCParksandtheChamberofCommercetoeducatethelocalbusinesscommunity,particularlybusinessesthatdependonforestuse(i.e.,tourismand

recreation)onFireSmartpreparationandplanning.

7.2 StructureProtection

7.2.1 Objectives

ToadoptaFireSmartapproachtositeandstructurehazardassessmentandstructure

protection.

TodeveloppolicytoolstoadoptFireSmartstandardsoverthenextfiveyears.

7.2.2 Issues

ManyhomesdonotmeettheFireSmartstructurehazardstandardsforinterfacefiresafety.

CurrentlythereisnofirevulnerabilitystandardforroofingmaterialsusedintheRegional

District.Manynewhomesareconstructedwithratedroofingmaterials;howeverolder

homesoftenhaveunratedroofsthatarevulnerabletospotfires.Inadditiontothe

vulnerabilityofroofingmaterialswithinthecommunity,adjacentvegetationisoftenin

closeproximitytoroofs,roofsurfacesareoftencoveredwithlitterfallandleavesfrom

nearbytrees,andopendecksarecommon.SeeexamplesinFigure15,Figure16,Figure17,andFigure18.

Unratedroofingmaterialscontributesignificantlytofirerisk.Intheshortterm,aresolution

tothisissueisdifficultgiventhesignificantcosttohomeowners.However,overthelong

term,alteringthebuildingcodeorbylawstoencourageachangeinroofingmaterialswhen

roofreplacementofindividualresidencesisrequiredmaybeasolution.

GiventhatspottingfromcrownfiresburninginsurroundingsecondgrowthDouglasfir

standsisoneofthebiggestthreatstothePortAlberniarea,emphasisshouldbeplacedon

fireratedroofing.

Combustiblematerialsstoredwithin10mofresidencesarealsoconsideredasignificant

issue.Woodpilesorotherflammablematerialsadjacenttothehomeprovidefueland

ignitablesurfacesforembers.

Structuresetbacksfromforestedgesarelimitedinmanyareas,whichfacilitatesfire

transmissiontoorfromresidences(Figure15,Figure16,Figure17).



42/91


Figure15.Photographshowingahomewithinthestudyareawithflammableshakeroofingmaterial

andpoordefensiblespace.



43/91


Figure16.Exampleofahomewithinthestudyareawithshakesidingandlittlesetbackfromforested

edges.

Figure17.Exampleofaluminumroofing,butwithanopendeckandlittlesetbacktovegetation.



44/91


Figure18.Anexampleoftworoofingmaterials;thestructureonthelefthasasphaltandthestructure

ontherighthasflammableshake.

Figure19.ExampleofgoodFireSmartplanning;10mdefensiblespace,nonflammableroofingand

siding,woodpileatleast10mfromstructure.Inthiscasethepropanetankwouldbebetterlocatedat

least10mfromthestructure.



45/91



Recommendation9: Wherehomesandbusinessesarebuiltimmediatelyadjacenttothe

forestedge,theRegionalDistrictshouldconsiderincorporatingbuildingsetbacksinto

bylawwithaminimumdistanceof10mwhenbuildingsbordertheforestinterface.

Recommendation10:TheRegionalDistrictshouldconductaFireSmarthazardassessment

ofthecommunitytoeducateresidentsonthehazardsthatexistontheirpropertiesandhow

tomitigatethosehazards.

Recommendation11:TheRegionalDistrictshouldinvestigatethepolicytoolsavailablefor

reducingwildfirerisk.Theseincludevoluntaryfireriskreductionforlandowners,bylaws

forbuildingmaterialsandsubdivisionestablishment,covenantsforvegetationsetbacks,

delineation

of

Wildfire

Development

Permit

areas

(http://www.regionaldistrict.com/docs/

planning/DPGuides/DP%20wildfire%20guide.pdf),incentivessuchasexclusionfromafire

protectiontax,andeducation.Specifically,theRegionalDistrictshouldinvestigateaprocess

tocreateand/orreviewandreviseexistingbylawstobeconsistentwiththedevelopmentof

aFireSmartcommunity.

Recommendation12:TheRegionalDistrictshouldconsiderrequiringtheuseofroofing

materialsthatarefireretardantwithaClassAandClassBratingwithinnewsubdivisions.

TheRegionalDistrictshouldconsiderobtaininglegaladviceregardingtheimplementation

ofbuildingrequirementsthataremorerestrictivethantheBCBuildingCode.While

restrictionstoratedroofingarenotsupportedintheCodeatthistime,thereareseveral

communitieswhichhaveundergoneorareundergoingvariousprocesses(e.g.,lobbying,

legalopinion,declarationofhazardbyFireChief)toenactroofingbylawswithintheir

WildfireDevelopmentPermitareas.

Recommendation13:TheRegionalDistrictshouldconsiderworkingwiththeBuilding

PolicyBranchtocreateapolicystructurethatwouldenabletheRegionalDistricttobetter

addresswildlandurbaninterfaceprotectionconsiderationsforbuildings.

Recommendation14:TheDistrictshouldconsiderconductingareviewofhydrant

distributionandfireflowsinruralareassuchasCherryCreekandBeaverCreektocheck

whetheranyupgradesarerequired,particularlyconsideringthepossibilityofmultiple

ignitionsfromspotting.

http://www.regionaldistrict.com/docs/%20planning/DPGuides/DP%20wildfire%20guide.pdfhttp://www.regionaldistrict.com/docs/%20planning/DPGuides/DP%20wildfire%20guide.pdfhttp://www.regionaldistrict.com/docs/%20planning/DPGuides/DP%20wildfire%20guide.pdfhttp://www.regionaldistrict.com/docs/%20planning/DPGuides/DP%20wildfire%20guide.pdfhttp://www.regionaldistrict.com/docs/%20planning/DPGuides/DP%20wildfire%20guide.pdf


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Recommendation15:SubdivisiondesignplansshouldbereviewedbytheFireDepartment

toensurethatsuitableaccessroutesexist,thathydrantaccessibilityisadequatewhere

applicable,andthatinterfacefirerelatedissuesareaddressed.

7.3 EmergencyResponse

7.3.1 Objectives

Todevelopanemergencyresponseplanthatenableseffectiveevacuation,improves

firefightersuppressioncapabilityandmaintainsfirefightersafety.

Torevieweachcommunitysevacuationplansinthenext12months.

Todevelopacontingencyplan,overthenext12months,intheeventthatsmokerequires

evacuationofcriticalemergencyservicesfacilities.

7.3.2

Issues

Evacuationofresidentsandaccessforemergencypersonnelisanimportantconsideration

giventheamountofforestfuelsinproximitytomanyhomesandthepotentialformultiple

structurefiresresultingfromspottingbyairborneembers.TheRegionalDistricts

EmergencyPlanningprogramcurrentlyhasanevacuationplanfortsunamis.Thereisno

evacuationplanspecifictoforestfires.

Goodtwowayaccessiscriticalintheeventofaninterfacefire,bothformovementof

emergencycrewsinandevacuationofresidentsout.Smokeandpoorvisibilitycanfurther

complicateaccess,creatingthenecessityfortrafficcontrolinsomelocations.Ingeneral,the

RegionalDistrict

has

relatively

good

access

routes.

Bamfield,

Sarita,

and

Franklin

River

are

accessedbyloggingroadfromPortAlberniandLakeCowichan.Thereisariskthatthese

areascouldbeisolateddependingonthelocationofawildfire.Howeverthereisgood

alternateaccessbyboatviaAlberniInlet.TheEaglePointpeninsulaonthenorthshoreof

SproatLakeislimitedtoasinglein/outaccessroute.Residentsinthisareacanbeevacuated

bywaterintheeventofafireduetothenumberofboatsanddocksreadilyavailableduring

summermonths.ThenorthernpartoftheAlberniValleyaccessedbyBeaverCreekRoad,

northofSmithRoadislimitedtoonemainin/outaccessroute.Therearealternate

evacuationroutesviaforestryroadstoCumberlandinthenorth,andloopingbacktothe

PacificRimHighwaybyGreatCentralLakeRoad.

Itcannotbeoverstatedthatintheeventofawildfire,somedeathsaretheresultofvehicle

accidentsorfirerelateddeathsduringevacuation.Oneaccidentcouldblockaroadwayand

haveamajornegativeimpactuponevacuationefforts.

Inadditiontotheevacuationofresidents,safetyoffirefightingpersonnelisamajor

consideration.UnderextremefireconditionsitmaybedifficultfortheFireandRescue



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Servicetoaccessspecificareasduetothepotentialforresourcestobeisolatedorcutoff.

Defenceoftheselocationswouldbesecondarytosafety.

ThereisaconsiderableamountofprivatelyownedforestlandaroundtheRegionalDistrict,

andaccesstosomeareasisgated.ThePortAlberniFireDepartmentmaintainsgatelocation

awarenessand

has

keys

for

some

gates

owned

by

forest

companies.

It

is

challenging

to

keep

currentwithkeysasthelocksaresometimeschangedwithoutnotificationtotheFire

Department.TheEmergencyPlanningCoordinatordoesnothavedirectaccesstothegated

roadinformation.


Recommendation16:Aformalcommunicationstructureshouldbeestablishedwiththe

MOFRsothatinformationregardingfiresintheregioniscommunicatedtotheRegional

Districtin

atimely

manner.

This

might

be

best

achieved

through

joint

cooperation

with

the

ACRD,ACRDmunicipalities,andtheMOFR.

Recommendation17:Considerationshouldbegiventofurtherdevelopingcommunity

evacuationplansrelatingtointerfacewildfire,buildingontheACRDevacuationplan

currentlyinplacefortsunamis.Appropriateevacuationroutesshouldbemapped,

consideringDisasterResponseRoutes(DRR).Majorevacuationroutesshouldbesignedand

communicatedtothepublic.Theplanshouldidentifylooproadsandensureaccessroutes

havesufficientwidthfortwowaytraffic.Inaddition,alternativeemergencyresponder

accessshouldbeconsidered.

Recommendation18: Aspartoftheevacuationplan,theRegionalDistrictshoulddevelop

strategiestoquicklyidentifyandclearcaraccidentsthatblockorimpedetrafficduring

evacuationefforts.

Recommendation19:TheRegionalDistrictshouldworktowardsimprovingaccessinareas

oftheRegionalDistrictthatareconsideredisolatedandthathaveinadequatelydeveloped

accessforevacuationandfirecontrol(forexample,byopeningdeadendroads,widening

clearedroadrightsofwayandconnectingroads).Thestatusofforestryroadconditions

shouldbekeptcurrentduringthefireseason.



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Recommendation20:Newsubdivisionsshouldbedevelopedwithmultipleaccesspoints

thataresuitableforevacuationandthemovementofemergencyresponseequipment.The

numberofaccesspointsandtheircapacityshouldbedeterminedduringsubdivisiondesign

andshouldbebasedonthresholddensitiesofhousesandvehicleswithinthesubdivisions.

Recommendation21:Whereforestedlandsabutnewsubdivisions,considerationshouldbe

giventorequiringroadwaystobeplacedadjacenttothoselands.Ifforestedlandssurround

thesubdivision,ringroadsshouldbepartofthesubdivisiondesign.

Recommendation22:.TheEmergencyPlanningCoordinatorshouldmaintainacopyofa

gatelocationmapandkeystatusforprivateforestlandwithintheinterfacearea.Forest

companiesmanaginggatedroadsshouldbeencouragedtoupdatethePortAlberniFire

Departmentwhenever

locks

are

changed

so

aset

of

current

lock

keys

can

be

maintained.

Recommendation23:Duringalargewildfireitispossiblethatcriticalinfrastructurewithin

theRegionalDistrictcouldbeseverelyimpactedbysmoke.Itisrecommendedthat

contingencyplansbedevelopedintheeventthatsmokecausesevacuationofthe

communitysincidentcommandcentres.TheRegionalDistrictshouldcooperatewith

municipalandprovincialgovernmentstoidentifyalternateincidentcommandlocations

andamobilefacilityintheeventthatthecommunityisevacuated.

Recommendation24:TheRegionalDistrictshouldconsiderconductingareviewofcritical

waterinfrastructuretoidentifyareaswherewaterinfrastructurerequiresimprovement.

MappingofwaterinfrastructureshouldbesharedwithRegionalDistrictmunicipalities,as

wellasadjacentRegionalDistricts,whichhavemutualaidagreements,andwiththeMOFR

toaidwildlandsuppressioncrewsduringawildfireevent.

7.4 Training/Equipment

7.4.1 Objectives

Toensure

adequate

and

consistent

training

for

firefighter

personnel

and

to

build

firefighter

experience.

TocontinuetotrainallFireDepartmentpersonneltotheprovincialstandard(S100and

S215)onanannualbasis.

Toensureadequateequipmentisavailableforwildfiresuppressioncrews.



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7.4.2 Issues

ThePortAlberniFireDepartmentpersonnelhavereceivedtrainingtoMinistryofForests

andRangewildlandfiresuppressionstandards(S100andS215).However,trainingisnot

doneonanannualbasis.

ThePortAlberniFireDepartmentrecentlypurchasedforestfirefightingequipment,

including2portablepumpsandforestrygradehose,thatistransportedby4x4vehicle.

Thereisnowatersupplycarriedonthetruck.

ThereisnodedicatedportablesprinklerkitavailableintheDistrict.Portablesprinklerkits

ownedbytheUBCMandadministeredbytheOfficeoftheFireCommissioneraredeployed

provinciallyatthediscretionoftheMOFR.ThesewillnotlikelybeavailableonVancouver

Islandunderconditionsofprovincialhighorextremefiredangerconditions.


Recommendation25:Thefollowingtrainingshouldbeconsidered:1)TheS100course

trainingshouldbeconductedonanannualbasisifpossible;andforallnewfiredepartment

personnel;2)TheS215courseinstructionshouldbegiventoFireChiefsandDeputies;3)A

reviewoftheS215courseshouldbegivenonanannualbasis;and,4)IncidentCommand

SystemtrainingshouldbegiventoFireChiefsandDeputies.

Recommendation26:TheFireDepartmentshouldmeetwiththeMOFRpriortothefire

seasontoreviewtheincidentcommandsystemstructureintheeventofamajorwildland

fire.Thereviewshouldincludedesignatedradiochannelsandoperatingprocedures.

Recommendation27:TheACRDandthePortAlberniFireDepartmentshouldconsider

reviewingitsexistinginventoryofinterfacefirefightingequipmenttoensurethatitemssuch

aslargevolumefirehoses,portablepumpsandfirefighterpersonalprotectionequipment

(PPE)areadequatetoresourcetheinterfacearea.FireDepartmentpersonnelshouldhave

correctpersonalprotectiveequipmentandwildlandfirefightingtools.Hoses,pumpsand

otherequipmentshouldbecompatiblewithMOFRwildlandfirefightingequipment.

Recommendation28:TheRegionalDistrictshouldconsiderworkingwiththemunicipalitiestocoordinatethecreationofaregionalandsubregionalmobilecacheof

wildlandfirefightingequipment.Thiswouldreducethecostofpurchasingandmaintaining

thecacheandprovideadditionalresourcesintheeventofawildfire.



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Recommendation29:TheRegionalDistrictshouldconsiderpurchasingamobilesprinkler

kit.TheUBCMshouldbeconsultedtoseeifsupplementalfundingisavailable.The

ErringtonVolunteerFireDepartmentandPortMoodyFireDepartmentcanbeconsultedto

reviewtheirmobilesprinklersystems.

Recommendation30:TheRegionalDistrictshouldconsiderpurchasingandoutfittinga

mobileinitialattackwildlandinterfacetrailer.Thiswouldbestockedwithallrequired

interfacefirefightingequipment.ThePortMoodyFireDepartmentcanbeconsultedto

reviewtheirwildlandinterfacetrailer.

Recommendation31:Mutualaidagreementsshouldbereviewedorestablishedwith

MOFR,forestcompanies,municipalitieswithintheACRD,andadjacentRegionalDistricts

toensurethatadequateresourcesandmanpowersupportareavailableintheeventofa

wildfire.

7.5 Vegetation(Fuel)Management

7.5.1 Objectives

Toproactivelyreducepotentialfirebehaviour,therebyincreasingtheprobabilityof

successfulsuppressionandminimizingadverseimpacts.

Toreducethehazardousfueltypes(C3,C4)onpubliclandlocatedadjacenttostructures.

Ideally,overthenextfiveyears,themajorityofthesefueltypeswouldbeconvertedtoless

hazardousfuel

types

or

isolated.

7.5.2 Issues

LandintheRegionalDistrictstudyareaisprimarilyprivately(40%)andprovincially(52%)

owned(Map7).TheremaininglandsareFederalland(7%)(Table12).About25%ofthe

hazardousfueltypesarelocatedonprivatepropertyintheACRDprojectarea(Map8).The

mostsignificantportionofhazardousfueltypesonprivatelandislocatedintheAlberni

Valleyarea.

Table12.Landownershipwithinthestudyarea.

Ownership

Area

Percent

CrownFederal 2,225ha 7

CrownProvincial 16,271ha 52

Private 12,417ha 40

Unknown 348ha 1

GrandTotal 31,261ha 100



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Map7.Mapshowingownershipstatus(note:therearesomeerrorsintheavailableownershipdata).


alberni-clayoquot regional district community wildfire protection plan

Documents