Wildfire Season is Here: Are You Ready?

Every year, as temperatures rise across British Columbia, so does the risk of wildfire. Yet many people still believe they will have plenty of warning if a wildfire threatens their community.

After more than 30 years working in emergency management and supporting people during disasters, I can tell you that emergencies rarely unfold exactly as expected.

I often think about Joe and Hilda. (Their names have been changed, but their story is real.)

Joe and Hilda lived in Lytton. Like many residents that year, they were concerned about the extreme heat but never imagined they would lose everything to a wildfire. As temperatures climbed, they tried everything to stay cool. They put foil on the windows to reflect the heat. They used wet towels draped around their necks.  They had fans blowing at full speed.  There was no air conditioning.  They desperately tried to stay cool.

Then everything changed.

Neighbours were on the street yelling, "Get out! Get out!"

There was no time to create a plan. No time to decide what to pack. No time to search for important documents or treasured family photos.

They grabbed what they could and left.

Later, they learned their home had been destroyed.

Like so many wildfire survivors, they didn't just lose the house. They lost photographs, keepsakes, memories, and pieces of their family history that could never be replaced.

The lesson isn't that Joe and Hilda did something wrong.  The lesson is that disasters move fast.

What Can You Do Today?

You don't need to prepare for every possible scenario. You simply need to be ready to leave if you are asked to.

Start with these five steps:

1. Create a Grab-and-Go Bag

Pack enough supplies for at least 72 hours, including medications, clothing, chargers, and personal items.

2. Protect Important Documents

Store copies of identification, insurance information, and important records in a waterproof container and electronically in a secure location.

3. Prepare for Your Pets

Make sure carriers, food, medications, and vaccination records are ready to go.

4. Know What an Evacuation Alert Means

An Evacuation Alert is your warning to get ready. It is not the time to wait and see what happens.

5. Have a Family Communication Plan

Know how you will connect with family members if you become separated.

The Time to Prepare is Now

The best time to prepare is before smoke fills the sky and before emergency vehicles arrive in your neighbourhood.

Joe and Hilda's story is a reminder that disasters don't always give us the time we think they will.

Take one step today. Build your grab-and-go bag. Gather your important documents. Create a family plan.

Because when an evacuation order comes, you don't want to be wondering what to do next.

You want to be ready.

Meet Jackie Kloosterboer

Jackie Kloosterboer is a disaster preparedness consultant, trainer, and speaker with more than 30 years of frontline emergency management experience. As a former ESS Director for the City of Vancouver and current instructor and consultant, Jackie has helped thousands of people prepare for emergencies and recover from disasters. Through Survive-It Disaster Preparedness, she is passionate about helping individuals, families, and communities move from panicked to prepared.

The time to prepare is now - once disaster strikes, it's too late.