“Unfortunately, the fire season this year started earlier and has been more widespread across the country than in recent memory,” said Federal Emergency Preparedness Minister Bill Blair.

In Canada, wildfire season officially starts March 1 and runs until October 31 each year. Sparks and embers start 50% of residential fires caused by wildfires. Embers are often carried more than a kilometre through the wind and ignite farms, homes and debris. Luckily, there are methods for property owners to prepare against ember attacks and minimize the likelihood of flames starting. When a wildfire becomes uncontrollable, it severely affects the environment and surrounding communities.

Preparing for wildfire season isn’t only about taking necessary precautions, but about fostering a culture of preparedness and resilience within communities, helping communities and individuals take responsibility for their safety and well-being during wildfire events.

“When people lose their homes, they don’t just lose a roof and their possessions; they lose a special place where they saw their children grow up, where they built a life,” said Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

One of the key ways to prevent the spread of wildfires is by using a fire suppression solution. Fire suppression refers to the efforts and strategies to control and extinguish wildfires. It involves a combination of techniques, equipment and people working together to minimize the spread of fire, protect lives and property and ultimately control the fire. Damage is 70% less when fire suppression is used than a property without them.

The primary reason you should consider fire suppression is to protect the people in your business, home and surrounding community. Wildfires can spread at 23 kilometres per hour when whipped up by winds for as long as fuel is available. By actively suppressing fires, emergency responders can more likely reduce the risk of injuries, fatalities, and the displacement of residents from their farms and homes.

The distance between communities and residents can be significant, with the closest firehall being hours or hundreds of kilometres away. Unfortunately, this means there could be long delays before your nearest fire services arrive at your property and can extinguish the fires that have started.

You’ve invested much time and money into your businesses and homes, maybe over multiple generations. Fire suppression protects your buildings, infrastructure, and valuable assets from irreparable damage. Wildfires can cause extensive damage, leading to the loss of entire businesses, acres of land, homes and essential community facilities. Many landowners underestimate the time needed to deal with insurance companies and municipal inspectors and find the right contractors to rebuild their property afterwards.

Wildfires can have severe ecological and environmental impacts, destroying old-growth forests, damaging wildlife habitats and disrupting sensitive ecosystems. Fire suppression helps protect the natural resources, biodiversity and delicate ecosystems around you. By containing and extinguishing wildfires before they get out of control, you help to preserve vital habitats and prevent the loss of important plants and animals in your region.

Wildfires can trigger other hazards, including landslides and floods. By suppressing fires before they spread, we can prevent the destabilization of soil on slopes and reduce the risk of post-fire hazards. Fire suppression helps protect communities from additional damage after a wildfire.

During wildfire season, the role of firefighters is crucial in combating and controlling the spread of fires across their region. However, protecting buildings and other structures from advancing flames is also essential for firefighters.

To help curb wildfires fast, firefighters nationwide have been using solutions such as the WASP Wildfire Protection Kits. These professional-grade fire protection kits were previously exclusive to commercial applications but are now available to small businesses and residential homeowners.

“Comox Fire Rescue has used WASP sprinklers for years. We carry about fifty of them on our Type 2 Structure Protection trailer. They’re easy to use, safe to deploy and effective and efficient,” says Gord Schreiner, Fire Chief of Comox Fire Rescue.

Same with Troy Milledge, who’s a Wildfire Ranger II for the Province of Alberta and says, “The great part of WASP is that it can run 24 hours a day without supervision. I found that the setup was quick and easy and could be moved with short notice.” He added that in Rainbow Lake, Alberta alone, these kits helped protect nearly 400 houses from being destroyed by wildfires. Thousands of WASP fire kits have been used this year throughout B.C. and Alberta.

Fire officials call for a prolonged and challenging forest fire season this year. They believe it’s the worst wildfire season of the 21st century. Communities are being told to prepare their households and create an emergency plan.

Preparing for wildfire season consists of protecting your property and staying informed. If you live near a wildfire area in a rural community, you should be sure your farm, business and home are protected by tools that help minimize damage to your property.

Remember, while saving money is important, it’s crucial not to compromise on the reliability and quality of fire protection equipment. Prioritize safety first and ensure you use products that meet Canadian fire standards and regulations.

Learn more about the fire suppression products Southern Irrigation carries, or Contact Us for advice on protecting your property.