Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. Interface Fires & Safety
   1. What is an "urban interface fire"?
   2. How can I protect my home and property from wildfire threat?
   3. In February 2003, the Auditor General released a "Follow-up of Performance Report, Managing Interface Fire Risks." What progress is the ministry making on implementing the partially implemented recommendations?
2. Fire History
   1. What were the most notable recent wildfires?
   2. Where were B.C.'s largest wildfires?
   3. How can I find the exact locations of all previous large wildfires in B.C.?
   4. What are the main causes of wildfires?
3. Burning
   1. What is a "prescribed burn?"
   2. If the Forest Service carried out more prescribed burning prior to this fire season, could more fires be prevented?
   3. Why are burning restrictions put in place?
   4. How do I know if there are burning restrictions in my area?
   5. Do I have to do anything when planning a backyard burn?
   6. What if I'm planning a larger fire?
4. Discovering & Reporting Fires
   1. What can I do to help prevent wildfires?
   2. How are wildfires detected?
   3. How can I report a wildfire or find out about wildfire activity in the province?
5. Causes of Fires
   1. Why is lightning so dangerous?
   2. How are arson fires handled?
   3. How does the weather influence the fire season?
6. Fighting Fire & Fire Behaviour
   1. What is this year's fire season going to be like?
   2. How is fire danger rated throughout the province?
   3. What do the "fire intensity rankings" mean?
   4. What does "under observation" mean?
   5. What happens during the "mop-up stage?"
   6. Does fire have any positive effects in the forest?
   7. How do you decide which fires to allocate resources to?
7. Firefighters & Staff
   1. How many fire fighters have been hired in B.C. this year?
   2. What types of fire fighting crews are there?
   3. What is an "Incident Command Team?"
   4. What type of training do fire fighters receive?
   5. How many people on a fire crew are sent to a wildfire?
   6. Why does the B.C. Forest Service use out-of-province fire fighters?
   7. How can I find out more about fire fighting jobs?
8. Fire-Fighting Aircraft
   1. What types of aircraft are used in wildfire suppression?
   2. What is the material dropped by aircraft at a fire?
   3. What is the difference between an air tanker and a water bomber?
9. Organziation
   1. Why was the Forest Service reorganized?
   2. What is the organizational and financial structure of wildfire management in the province?
   3. How is the B.C. Forest Service involved in wildfire suppression internationally?