Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations - Wildfire Management Branch
About Us
The British Columbia Forest Service, Wildfire Management Branch has been responding to wildfires since it was formed in 1912. The Wildfire Management Branch is internationally recognized as a leader in wildfire management and is known for its highly trained and committed personnel, uncompromising safety attitude, and innovative use of technology.
B.C.'s forests and wildlands cover over 94 million hectares (nearly a million square kilometres) and are the most diverse in Canada. Confronted by an average of 2,000 wildfires each year, highly trained fire crews are successful in containing 92 percent of all wildfires in B.C. within the first 24-hours of discovery.
The Wildfire Management Branch is tasked with managing wildfires on both Crown and private lands outside of organized areas such as municipalities or regional districts. While the Wildfire Management Branch is mandated to protect life and assets, particularly forests and grasslands, it gives high priority to fires in interface areas where communities and forests come together. As B.C.'s population continues to grow and more people build homes in or near wildland areas, the interface area will be the biggest challenge facing the Wildfire Management Branch. Learn more about protecting your home from wildfire by reviewing the Deliver effective wildfire management and emergency response support on behalf of the government of British Columbia to protect life and
values at risk and to encourage sustainable, healthy and resilient ecosystems. Excellence in wildfire management and response services
To meet our mandate, the Wildfire Management Branch will:
The Home Owners FireSmart Manual (3.7 MB)
Mandate
Vision
Mission
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