By Ryan Jones, Vice-President, Risk Services, Federated Insurance
Although we’re still in the early days of summer, wildfires have already begun burning across the country. According to Natural Resources Canada, the 2023 wildfire season was the most destructive ever recorded in our country, and widespread from the West Coast to the Atlantic Provinces and in the North. In a typical year, an average of 2.5 million hectares of Canadian land are consumed by fire. By early September 2023, a staggering 16.5 million hectares of land had been ravaged by fire – more than double the 1989 record.
As our climate changes and we experience more extreme weather, record high temperatures and dry conditions, the risk of wildfires intensifies.
It’s not just land that is at risk. Infrastructure, buildings, homes and entire communities are increasingly in the path of devastating fire. Damages sustained are not only limited to fire damage, but also can include smoke and water damage to property and homes.
While wildfire risk is often discussed from a homeowner’s perspective, we know that builders and renovators, and their subcontractors, can also be impacted. If you are in possession of a home under construction or land, or if you’re renovating a home, your property, crew and equipment may be at risk. Whether you build or renovate, if your business is shut down due to evacuation orders, you may face further financial losses.
Building design, how you manage the site and property conditions, and how you plan for a wildfire event can drastically minimize your risk. Unless the home being built is constructed in a factory away from the wildfire area, the following points may help builders or renovators reduce fire losses on their project sites.
Building design and maintenance
• Roof (the most susceptible part of a home when it comes to wildfire): Roof coverings made of Class-A fire resistant material such as asphalt shingles, or non-combustible materials such as metal, clay or concrete tile offer the best protection.
• Gutters: Keep clear of combustible debris by cleaning and inspecting eaves on a regular basis, even during construction.
• Vents: Keep clear of combustible debris, ensure vents are made of non-combustible material, such as metal, and ensure they are ASTM fire rated. Cover roof vents with fire and corrosion resistance screens.
• Siding: Vinyl siding is vulnerable to melting, and wood siding is combustible. In contrast, masonry veneer, poured concrete, stucco and fibre cement boards offer superior fire resistance.
• Fireplaces: Install a spark arrestor for the chimney of any woodburning fireplace to reduce the chance of sparks or embers escaping and starting a fire.
Landscaping (and site maintenance)
Best practices for landscaping, property access and fire safety can be applied to site maintenance while the home is under construction, as well as when the home is occupied by residents.
Having a fuel reduction area (or a safety zone) helps protect the property from fire, and having good emergency access to the property can make all the difference. Wherever possible, the following are best practices:
• Maintain a 1.5-metre non-combustible surface perimeter around the building footprint, according to FireSmart Canada. This area should also be kept clear of combustible materials, including construction materials, decking, patio furniture or vegetation.
• Maintain a separation between buildings, automobiles, fuel tanks, outside storage areas and high grass or wooded areas.
• Avoid stacking/storing combustible materials, such as wood, against the house – store a suitable distance away from the home, being mindful not to store it against outbuildings.
• Ensure the property is easily identifiable to the fire department, and that driveways and access roads are well maintained, adequately sized and properly graded, even during construction. Design roads and parking areas to accommodate fire department vehicles.
Fire safety is important for all property owners, but extra steps are necessary to reduce the risk of fire in wildfire areas.
• Store combustible and flammable materials: Ensure they’re stored in approved containers and that they’re located outdoors at an acceptable distance from buildings, fences and vehicles (consult local authorities for specific laws and requirements). If the home is on a slope, store them lateral to the building, not uphill or downhill.
• Smoking areas: Establish a safe outdoor smoking zone, such as a paved area, where dropped smoking materials are less likely to start a fire. Provide appropriate containers for discarding smoking materials.
• Store garbage and construction waste in fire resistant waste containers with tight fitting lids.
• Avoid burning outdoors in dry weather or during the wildfire season.
Wildfire response plan
Builders/renovators should create a written wildfire response plan and make it accessible to all employees, with copies readily available for staff and anyone on the jobsite. In addition, you should:
• Hold regular discussions to ensure everyone on the jobsite and any office staff know how to respond and communicate when a wildfire hits.
• Practice drills to provide employees and subcontractors experience with properly reacting to wildfires in the event of an emergency.
• Know evacuation routes and practice travelling along them, and know the safest place to go if you’re evacuated.
• Set up ongoing data backup for your office computer systems so you can access data remotely in the event of an emergency.
• Reserve or make an agreement with an alternate location to continue business operations away from known wildfire zones during a wildfire event.
Minimizing your wildfire risk, including taking steps to prevent the spread of wildfire and having a response plan in place, is more critical now than ever. During wildfire seasons, stay up to date with your local Fire Danger Warning level. If you’re under a wildfire advisory, stay current with your local news station, and visit the government of Canada wildfire website and the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre for situation reports and interactive maps.
By taking these steps, you can help ensure your business remains safe. Demonstrate your commitment to the safety of your employees, customers, and business by leaving nothing to chance. To learn more about key risk management practices that can assist your business, visit federated.ca.
