New IcoE report: FireSmart guidelines for Canada's wildfires
21 September 2015

Fire image with ICLR Sept 21 news itemRisk Reduction Status of Homes Reconstructed Following Wildfire Disasters in Canada” is a new report from Alan Westhaver and the Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction (ICLR)  and the first study released since ICLR was selected as an IRDR ICoE for Disaster Resilient Homes, Buildings, and Public Infrastructure (DRHBPI). The study on wildfire risk is the first of its kind in Canada and examines an aspect of wildfire disaster mitigation and recovery that has not been previously investigated. Westhaver looked at nearly 450 homes rebuilt after two of Canada’s largest wildfires to determine if they were simply  put back ‘as was’ or whether ‘FireSmart’ risk mitigations were put into place. The report includes an executive summary and specific recommendations.

This study assessed current wildfire risk in homes reconstructed since the wildfires occurred and sought to analyse to what degree homeowners adopted and implemented FireSmart measures to mitigate the risk of future wildfire losses. This comparison created a reliable measure of the degree to which FireSmart guidelines have been accepted and adopted by homeowners and focused on hazard mitigations applied by residents at, or very near to, private homes.

In general, results of this investigation showed that a few FireSmart solutions have been widely adopted by homeowners, others in part, and some very little or not at all. The degree of adoption for known risk mitigations varied between geographic areas, between different categories of wildfire hazards, within categories of related hazard factors, and spatially within the home ignition zone. Equally important, the study revealed similarities between levels of adoption for some risk mitigation activities. Differences between urban centres and more rural settings were minor. Overall, twice as many wildfire hazard factors received a poor adoption grade, as those that attained an “excellent” rating.

Related News & Events
01 July 2025
We warmly welcome young researchers from all disciplines relevant to DRR to apply and become part of the IRDR Young Scientists community. Deadline for Submission: 31 August 2025.
26 June 2025
The recent completed IRDR Pilot Study “The Current Situation and Future of the Digital Industry Development in Disaster Risk Reduction field in Sichuan Province” maps Sichuan’s landscape of digital industry in DRR and provides a strategic roadmap for targeted investments that maximize impact.
26 June 2025
IRDR collaborates with International Research Center for Big Data for Sustainable Development (CBAS) provide satellite data products and services for emergency response, risk assessment and post-disaster reconstruction observation and assessment through an IRDR Pilot Study "Sustainable Development Scientific Satellite-1 (SDGSAT-1) for Disaster Risk Reduction and Global Emergency Response".
Disclaimer of use | Privacy Policy | Terms of use | Contact us|
Copyright 2023 Integrated Research on Disaster Risk. All rights reserved.
+86 10 8217 8917
Room B713, No.9 Dengzhuangnan Rd., Beijing China 100094