Be Wildfire Ready:

Preparing your farm or ranch

Wildfires are affecting many parts of B.C. Our thoughts are with the communities, families, farmers, ranchers and individuals being affected.

We are writing to share resources to help producers prepare and respond.

If you are currently being affected by wildfire, follow official instructions from your municipality, Indigenous Government or regional district. Supplemental resources to support the agriculture sector can be found at gov.bc.ca/AgriEmergency and in the newsletter below.

In this newsletter, find information to:

Stay informed

Make a plan

Protect structures from wildfire

Plan to protect livestock

Access support during an emergency

Navigate Agriculture Insurance and Income Protection Programs

Prioritize your health and well-being

Stay informed

• Sign up for emergency notifications through the website of your local authority (Regional District, municipality) or Indigenous Governing Body
  • Your local government is your key source of information during an emergency. They are responsible for the local Emergency Operations Centre (EOC), and they issue evacuation alerts or orders and establish protocols to enter evacuation order areas
     
• Bookmark emergencyinfobc.gov.bc.ca and EmergencyMapBC: These pages contain verified and current updates, safety instructions, and links to official sources during emergencies in B.C.:
  • Follow EmergencyInfoBC on Facebook and X
• Bookmark drivebc.ca to check for current road conditions, closures, and delays
   
• Use the BC Wildfire Service Map: Online or download the app on Apple or Android
   
• Find more official sources of information with EmergencyBC’s emergency resources for residents and visitors
• Learn what happens during an evacuation

Make a plan

Wildfire won’t wait for you to make a plan.

The fires this season are growing bigger, faster. You may not be put on alert before you are advised to evacuate. The best way to make sure your family and farm is safe is to plan now.

Prepare your ag operation with a Farm/Ranch Wildfire Plan

• Get prepared with the Farm & Ranch Wildfire Preparedness Guide & Workbook
• Watch a video about creating an operations map

Prepare your household

• PreparedBC offers downloadable guides, including:
  • Home Emergency Plan
  • Pet Emergency Plan

Prepare for wildfire smoke

• Use the AgSafe Wildfire Smoke Response Plan to protect your employees from exposure to wildfire smoke

Protect structures from wildfire

Take action now to reduce wildfire risk to critical farm buildings.

Preparing ahead of time can substantially reduce the risk of structures being damaged from wildfires.

The most important area to focus on is the structure itself and the area within 30 metres of each structure. In particular, focus on the structure itself and the first 1.5 m to make the biggest difference in reducing wildfire impacts to structures.

Simple FireSmart actions include:

• Removing dry leaves, pine needles, and debris from around buildings and on roofs
• Moving wood piles, equipment, and fuel away from buildings
• Avoiding storing flammable materials against walls or under decks

These steps help reduce the chance that embers can ignite structures.

Want to do more?

• Learn how wildfires spread and impact structures
• Watch a short five-min video to see ‘Farmers talk FireSmart’:

Get a free FireSmartBC Farm & Ranch Assessment:

• A FireSmart assessment is a great starting point for wildfire preparedness. A customized assessment identifies wildfire risks and provides practical, tailored recommendations to protect your property and operation
• Get started now at firesmartbc.ca/farm-and-ranch

Get a Free FireSmartBC Farm & Ranch Assessment Now!

Plan to protect livestock

Use the Farm & Ranch Wildfire Preparedness Guide & Workbook to identify options to protect livestock if your operation is threatened by wildfire.

Different animals may require unique response actions, depending on the situation, to achieve the lowest overall risk.

The Decision Guide in the Guide & Workbook includes four options:

1. Shelter livestock in a barn

2. Relocate livestock to a safe outdoor location

3. Relocate livestock to a ‘buddy farm’

4. Freeing animals < last resort and not recommended >

Make a Wildfire Plan to Protect Livestock Now

Register your livestock with BCPID

Registering with BC Premises Identification (BCPID) Program is one of the simplest steps you can take to protect your animals. It ensures responders know livestock are on your property, can contact you during an emergency, and can factor your operation into evacuation and re-entry decisions.

Register or Reconfirm your BCPID
 

Is your BCPID information up to date?

Please take 5 minutes to log in and ensure your contact and livestock details are accurate and current in BCPID. Having accurate BC Premises Identification (BCPID) details ensures responders can reach you quickly to help protect your animals.
 

Not sure if your animals require registration?

Check the BCPID brochure for a full list of species that need to be registered.

Have a Premises ID, but no online access?

Click "Get Access" under the Access Paper Account section and enter your account number and phone number.

Trouble logging in? Questions? We’re here to help: BCPID@gov.bc.ca | 1-888-221-7141 (Ask for BC Premises Identification)

Access support during an emergency

Bookmark and review gov.bc.ca/AgriEmergency to familiarize yourself with the resources available if you are impacted by a wildfire.

gov.bc.ca/AgriEmergency provides information about:

Contacts for producers during an emergency, including:

• Local Emergency Operations Centre (EOC)
• Industry Association

Support for producers during emergencies, including:

• Agriculture coordinators in local EOCs
• Livestock relocation assistance
• Range Rider Program
• Rancher Liason Program
• Access to Feed Program
• Temporary access passes
   

Support for agriculture workers during emergencies

Always follow official instructions from your municipality, Indigenous Government or regional district, and EmergencyInfoBC. The website linked above shares supplement information to support the agriculture sector.

Agriculture Insurance and Income Protection Programs

Agriculture Insurance and Income Protection Programs help farmers manage the unpredictable financial challenges that come with food production in B.C. Whether it's extreme weather, market disruptions, increased costs or natural disasters, our programs keep you and your family's livelihood safe.

AgriStability

• Late participation is now available for producers who wish to enroll in AgriStability for the 2026 Program year
   
• Impacted farmers that are enrolled in AgriStability or who wish to participate through late participation should phone 1-877-343-2767 to enroll or to open a claim
  • Interim payments of up to 75% may be available for eligible participants
     
• AgriStability is a continuous program that provides assistance against severe drops in profit margins of greater than 30%, based on individual farm’s income and expenses in previous years, and considers losses to stored crop, nursery plants and livestock in assessments
   

Production Insurance (crop insurance)

• Impacted farmers that hold an Production Insurance policy, should contact their Regional Production Insurance Office Or phone 604-556 3001 or Toll free tel: 604-556 30011-888-332-3352 to open a claim
  • An insurance adjustor will then inspect the crop to determine the loss
     
• Production Insurance is an affordable insurance program that supports agricultural producers to manage the risk of crop losses caused by weather perils such as hail, frost, excessive rain, fire, flooding, drought, and wildlife. In B.C., Production Insurance is offered for berries, grain, forage, grapes, tree fruit, vegetables and flower bulbs

Health and wellness in the agriculture industry

Working in the agricultural industry can be both rewarding and stressful. It is difficult to identify and manage stress and accommodate the necessary self-care.

Access resources and information about health, wellness and managing stress, including accessing help in a crisis.

The BC Wildfire Recovery for Agriculture (PDF, 1.5KB) is a disaster recovery workbook containing steps for the process of disaster recovery. While wildfire specific, this guide has many tips and resources that apply to a wide range of disasters.

 FireSmartBC Farm & Ranch Wildfire Preparedness Website