Community Wildfire Resiliency Plan

Work to Date
In 2020, the City of Langford created a Community Wildfire Protection Plan which provided a framework for the management of wildfire risk in Langford. This plan also provided opportunities to access funding and resources from the Province of British Columbia to help prepare the community for a wildfire event.

In 2002 a Development Permit Policy was created requiring new development that is close to forested areas to be built with fire-resistant materials, create fuel-free barriers between homes, buildings and forests, and to install landscaping that has low flammability.

While important work has been done to date, it is important to take time to reflect on the current plan, make updates, and continue to take a proactive approach to community wildfire resiliency.

Historical and Climate Context
Climate projections for the Capital Region indicate that global warming will lead to more extreme climate events, such as intense storms and long heat waves. The Region is expected to see increased rainfall in fall, winter, and spring, but less in the summer, with more intense and frequent rainfall events overall. Summers will become hotter, with fewer freezing days in winter, and greater variability between seasons. These changes will lead to longer and more intense wildfire seasons, as observed in other regions of BC and North America. Warmer conditions in spring and fall will extend the fire season, while droughts and insect outbreaks weaken forest health, increasing tree mortality and fuel loads. Despite uncertainties about the rate of climate change, the lengthening fire season in BC suggests increasing wildfire frequency and intensity in the area.

In July 2024, the Old Man Lake wildfire near Sooke, BC, started as a human-caused fire and grew rapidly, reaching 169 hectares within days. It continued to burn out of control, leading to the closure of nearby parks, including Sooke Potholes Regional Park, sections of the Galloping Goose Trail, and local campgrounds. By early August, it had grown to 230 hectares but was eventually brought under control. Fortunately this fire did not threaten any urban areas directly, however, it did cause smoke which affected air quality across the Region.

Next Steps Towards Continued Community Resiliency
A new Community Wildfire Resiliency Plan funded by the Provincial Government’s Community Resiliency Investment Program will guide the City on priorities for managing wildfire risk in the wildland-urban interface, the area where homes and buildings meet forest vegetation. The City is working with professional forestry consultants to update the Plan, which is being led by Langford Fire Rescue. The project is expected to be completed in early 2025, when the new plan will be reviewed by Council.

Council’s Strategic Plan
The Community Wildfire Resiliency Plan will support Council’s Strategic Plan priorities of sustainable development, and climate change and environmental stewardship by offering guidance to the City’s FireSmart program, and opportunities to enhance wildfire prevention, preparedness, and mitigation.