b.c. wildfire management branch—2012 presentation to the pfla

Wildfire Management BranchWildfire Management Branch

Meeting Future ChallengesMeeting Future Challenges

Objectives Objectives

• WMB Client Service Delivery 2007-11

• Climate Change and Wildfire Impacts

• WMB Strategy 2012-17

WMB Client Service DeliveryWMB Client Service Delivery

Geographic Area

Total # Client

Incidents

Preventable Non-Preventable (Lightning)

Coastal 614 596 18

Southeast 118 61 57

Total 732 657 75

Client Wildfire Responses 2007-11

Geographic Area

Costs to Service Clients

Preventable

Non-Preventable (Lightning)

Coastal $1,986,168 $1,871,205 $114,963

Southeast $2,119,691 $269,370 $1,850,321

Total $4,105,859 2,140,575 $1,965,284

Client Wildfire Cost Responses 2007-11

WMB Client Service DeliveryWMB Client Service Delivery

Agency Coastal Southeast Total

Province (Other Lands) 676 1840 2516

Client’s Land 614 118 732

Total 1290 1958 3248

% of Response to Client’s Lands

48% 6% 23%

Provincial Wildfire Response 2007-11

Climate Change and WildfireClimate Change and Wildfire

•The length of fire season is increasing•Annual fire numbers have increased by approximately 300 since 1999•Since 1999, area burned has increased by approximately 55,000 hectares•Many parts of BC are warming at a rate that is twice the global average•Wildfire behaviour is getting more severe•Wildfires are becoming larger

Wildfire Management Response IssuesWildfire Management Response Issues

Public Expansion of home construction in forested

areas Expansion of industrial development

Mining, backcountry recreation facilities, independent power projects

Resources Recruitment of highly skilled workforce Increased costs of firefighting Keeping pace with increasing workload

(capacity)

Wildfire Management Response IssuesWildfire Management Response Issues

Environment Smoke management and air quality Increase in forest fuel loading Decline in vegetative health Impacts of climate change

Provincial StrategyProvincial Strategy

WMB Strategic Plan 2012-17

Fuel ManagementPromote fuel management planning, treatments and hazard abatementPursue long-term sustainable funding for community protectionAssist local government and agencies with Community Wildfire Protection Plans

Provincial StrategyProvincial Strategy

WMB Strategic Plan 2012-17

Fire ManagementDevelop a landscape fire management

planning process and standardsSupport a coordinated prescribed burn

programSupport alternative use of fuel hazard

materials in biofibre production

Provincial StrategyProvincial Strategy

WMB Strategic Plan 2012-17

PartnershipsRevise and communicate the cost sharing

agreement frameworkPursue opportunities to work cooperatively or

in partnership with other clients, agencies or governments

QuestionsQuestions