Residents of North Saanich gathered at the Saanich Peninsula Presbyterian Church on Wednesday, April 10, for a forum dedicated to wildfire protection, hosted by North Saanich Residents Association during their annual general meeting.
A panel of experts addressed concerns and provided information on the district's readiness and resources.
The panel included key figures such as North Saanich director of infrastructure Ben Martin, Fire Chief Steve Sorensen and FireSmart coordinator Travis Stewart.
Representatives from the insurance industry, Jennifer Lowrey and Kimberley Beecham, were also present to address insurance-related inquiries.
One of the first issues highlighted during the discussions was the importance of a robust water system for fire suppression.
Martin detailed the district’s water system capacity, drawing from the Sooke reservoir via the regional and Peninsula systems, integrated with the Town of Sidney.
He also assured residents that “although the water reservoirs aren't always full, they are sized for a long duration.”
"We have generally not experienced any problems with the supply from the CRD,” he explained. “They are essentially sized for a little fire flow, some bumpering, some crises and some emergency capacity.”
He emphasized the ongoing efforts to renew the district’s master plan, assessing capacity, identifying deficiencies and ensuring adequate fire flows, especially during peak summer conditions.
Chief Sorensen outlined the fire department’s capabilities, operating from two stations equipped with multiple fire trucks, pumper trucks and a pumper tanker.
“The biggest threat that we face is what we call an interface fire where someone has a house within the trees and both things go at once, so it gets a little more complicated,” he explained.
While acknowledging the strength of the infrastructure, he also highlighted the challenge of volunteer availability during certain times of the day.
Stewart addressed the community's concerns about wildfire risk, stating North Saanich currently sits at 4 out of a scale of 5 for forest fire risk by B.C. Wildfire mapping.
He emphasized that while not as high risk as areas with extensive wildland-urban interfaces, the intermix interface and climate change still pose a threat.
Another one of the biggest questions asked by residents during the forum was whether their insurance would protect them in the event of a wildfire.
Insurance representatives clarified that wildfire is covered under standard insurance policies.
“Fire of any type is covered under your insurance policy,” Lowrey said. “So, whether it's a stove in your home, or if a gas fireplace was to burn down your home or wildfire, it’s always covered.”
Stewart also confirmed the availability of rebates up to $1,000 through the CRD for "fire-smarting" homes.
“That’s the CRD limit. We pay at a 2:1 ratio, which means, if you complete $2,000 of rework, you get a cheque for $1,000,” he explained.
The forum concluded with a discussion about the overall risk assessment, balancing the area’s geographic advantages with the increasing impact of climate change.
The fire chief acknowledged the heightened risk during specific times of the year.
"North Saanich is not a high-risk location, but we must also consider climate change and the occasional heat dome,” Sorensen said. "There are going to be certain days or times of the year when our risk could be extremely high, but those days are few and far between in this area."
The forum underscored the importance of community preparedness and proactive measures to protect homes and properties from potential wildfire threats.
With planned budget proposals for enhanced firefighter training and a new water master plan in the works, North Saanich is taking steps to ensure the community remains fire-smart for years to come.
