Wildfire Hazard Assessments

Many development projects require wildfire hazard assessments and reports for permitting. As practicing wildfire professionals, our team has the skills, expertise, and experience required to complete WHAs for development permits. We have experience working with private property owners and developers on a variety of projects, including subdivision developments, new housing construction, and renovations. Locally, we have experience with the District of Lake Country, the City of Kelowna, the City of Vernon, and the RDCO’s development permit processes.

The Wildfire Hazard Assessment process includes a site assessment to determine wildfire risk and a report that outlines potential mitigation strategies. Each report includes a careful review of applicable bylaws. We work with planning staff and other contractors to make sure the report submitted meets applicable standards and does not contradict recommendations of other plans (e.g., environmental assessment report requirements).

During the site assessment, we spend time with the client discussing the project plans and potential wildfire risk reduction strategies for the site.  Our mitigation strategies for wildfire risk are guided by site-specific wildfire risk. We will review wildfire factors onsite such as fuel, topography, and weather, and provide a wildfire risk ranking. Based on the wildfire risk, we will then determine appropriate mitigation strategies. Additionally, the landscape plans can have a considerable impact on wildfire behavior. We work with the client to modify or design their landscape using FireSmart principles. Education is an important part of ensuring wildfire mitigation measures are successful over the long term. We make sure that clients have a good understanding of how important maintenance measures are, such as how important annual cleaning and removal of debris from gutters.