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BC Forest Fire Policy
Forest Fighting Strategy
British Columbia does not attack all fires in the same manner. Three different forest fire strategies are deployed depending upon the type of fire in question.
| Type of Fire | Description | Strategy |
| Low Priority | A fire that occurs in remote areas, with no or little timber or aesthetic values, or if a wildfire occurs in an area where fire is natural part of the ecosystem. | Containment or simply let the fire take its natural course. |
| High Priority | A fire that occurs in a populated area or threatens valued timber stocks. | Immediate and vigorous action by initial attack crews. May require additional airborne support in the form of air tankers or heli-tankers. |
| Project Fire | Large wildfires that spread beyond the control of initial attack crews. | Deployment of specialized fire support teams, incident management teams and information teams. May require a mobile fire camp, employing up to 100 people. |
Prescribed Fires
In addition to an aggressive fire suppression policy, the province also uses a prescribed fire program. Prescribed fires are controlled fires intentionally started by the province to accomplish planned resource management objectives. These objectives may include:
- Preventing larger natural wildfires by destroying the build up of forest fuels.
- Limiting tree encroachment on grasslands
- Rehabilitating ecosystems
For more information, BC Ministry of Forests - Prescribed Fires
Provincial Forest Fire Budget
British Columbia provides an annual funding for forest fires. This budget is divided into two parts: the fire preparedness budget and the direct fire budget.
- Fire Preparedness Budget - This funding is reserved for maintaining fire-fighting resources in state of readiness. The preparedness budget is approximately $47.3 million. Specific expenditures include infrastructure, staff salaries, fire fighter training, computer-systems maintenance, long-term contracted aircraft, and maintenance of tanker bases, heliports and fire camps. It also provides for enforcement of the Forest Fire Prevention Regulations, promotion of wildfire safety to communities, and prescribed fire programs.
- Direct Fire Budget - This funding is for all direct costs associated with fighting and extinguishing wildfires. For the 2000/01, $30.3 million was allocated for this direct fire budget. This includes travel for fire fighters, overtime wages, emergency fire fighter wages, equipment purchases/rentals, air patrols and fire retardant drops.
The direct fire budget is determined by averaging the total costs of fighting fires in previous years. However, the budgeted amount often falls far short of actual costs. For example, the province is predicting that the 2003 fire season may cost over $500 million, over ten times the amount budgeted for. In such a situation, Section 10 of the Forest Act gives the BC Forest Service authority to access a special account (consolidated general revenue),
For more information, BC Ministry of Forests - Protective Branch