Farm & Ranch Program

The FireSmart BC Farm & Ranch Wildfire Preparedness Webpage provides farms and ranches with information about:

• Why FireSmart principles are the best defence for farms and ranches
• Farm & Ranch Assessments
• Farm & Ranch Wildfire Preparedness Guide & Workbook
• Open burning for farms and ranches

The FireSmart BC Farm & Ranch Assessment applies FireSmart principles to protect critical farm and ranch structures. The Farm & Ranch Assessment is for assessing vulnerabilities of barns and buildings primarily for farm use and is not used for assessing homes.

The assessment is conducted by experienced Local FireSmart Representatives (LFRs), Wildfire Mitigation Specialists (WMSs), and FireSmart Coordinators (FSCs) who have completed the FireSmart BC Farm & Ranch Course. See the ‘Farm & Ranch Training Course’ information box below for more information about the course.

All FireSmart assessments, including farm & ranch assessments, are provided at no cost to the client.

There are two sources of funding (two pathways) for farms and ranches to access FireSmart Farm & Ranch Assessments:

1. CRI Program: FireSmart Community Funding and Supports

Starting in 2025, local authorities can use CRI funding to conduct Farm & Ranch FireSmart Assessments.

For more information, see the CRI Program FireSmart Community Funding and Supports – Program and Application Guide.

FireSmart Coordinators: if a farm requests a Farm & Ranch Assessment and you are unable to provide one through your local FireSmart Program, please refer the producer to support@firesmartbc.ca, or contact us directly so we can assist.

2. Ministry of Agriculture and Food: Extreme Weather Preparedness Funding

Farms and ranches in regions that do not have a local FireSmart Program offered through their local authority are eligible to apply for funding for a FireSmart BC Farm & Ranch Assessment through the Ministry of Agriculture and Food’s Extreme Weather Preparedness (EWP) Funding.

Eligible farms & ranches apply directly to EWP funding, which is delivered outside of FireSmart BC local programming (EWP funding is separate from CRI funding).

For more information, see the ‘Extreme Weather Preparedness Funding’ information box below.

The FireSmart BC Farm & Ranch Course covers the unique challenges that farms and ranches face in preparing for wildfire. The course discusses evidence-based FireSmart best practices that can help reduce wildfire risks.

Through review of case studies on different farm operations and completion of an example assessment, participants will be well-equipped to work with producers to develop site-specific wildfire mitigation actions using the FireSmart BC Farm & Ranch Assessment form.

LFR, WMS, and FSC must complete the Farm & Ranch Course to be qualified to conduct Farm & Ranch Assessments.

To be eligible to take the course, LFR, WMS, and FSC must have completed at least 10 home assessments.

The course is free to take. CRI Program funding is available for LFR, WMS, and FSC employed by local authorities for time spent completing the training. Formore information, see the CRI Program FireSmart Community Funding and Supports – Program and Application Guide.

Enroll for the course here.

Funding is available for farms and ranches to implement FireSmart recommendations from their FireSmart BC Farm & Ranch Assessment, to protect critical farm and ranch structures.

Two sources of funding are available for farms and ranches:

1. CRI Program: FireSmart Community Funding and Supports

Starting in 2025, local authorities can use CRI funding to offer Farm & Ranch Rebates.

For more information, see the CRI Program FireSmart Community Funding and Supports – Program and Application Guide’

2. Ministry of Agriculture and Food: Extreme Weather Preparedness (EWP) Funding

Extreme Weather Preparedness funding is delivered outside of FireSmart BC local programming and is separate from CRI funding. Eligible farms & ranches apply directly to EWP funding.

For more information, see the ‘Extreme Weather Preparedness Funding’ information box below.

Note: Farms can use a Farm & Ranch Assessment conducted by a local authority to apply for EWP Project Funding. Similarly, farm & ranch assessments conducted with EWP funding may be used to access a CRI rebate through a local authority.

Note: Farm & Ranch Assessments must have been completed within the last 5 years to be eligible to apply for Project Funding to address recommendations from the assessment.

The Farm & Ranch Wildfire Preparedness Guide & Workbook was developed in partnership with the BC agriculture sector.

The Guide & Workbook helps farms to:

• take action ahead of wildfire season to reduce impacts of wildfire,
• prepare to take effective action during a wildfire,
• communicate the plan to family, farm workers, and neighbours, and
• share information with those involved in wildfire response before or during a wildfire.

Find the Guide & Workbook on the FireSmart BC Farm & Ranch Wildfire Preparedness webpage.

Supporting producers in completing the Guide & Workbook is part of providing a comprehensive Farm & Ranch Assessment.Facilitating Farm & Ranch Wildfire Plan preparation utilizing the Farm & Ranch Guide is eligible for CRI Program funding as part of completing a Farm & Ranch Assessment; for more information, see the CRI Program FireSmart Community Funding and Supports – Program and Application Guide.

Local authorities can host Farm & Ranch Wildfire Preparedness Workshops to help farms and ranches in their region prepare for wildfire.

Local authorities can use CRI Program funding to offer Wildfire Preparedness Workshops. For more information, see the CRI Program FireSmart Community Funding and Supports – Program and Application Guide.

Workshops can cover:

• why a farm/ranch wildfire plan is important, understanding wildfire threat and impacts and agency and producer roles during a wildfire,
• an introduction to resources available for planning and preparation,
• steps to create a custom farm/ranch wildfire plan, including developing operational maps for planning and communication and creating inventories for livestock, response equipment and resources and water sources,
• key considerations for risk reduction on agricultural properties, such as reducing combustibles and using fire resistant materials, including best practices unique to agriculture,
• livestock protection planning,
• employee and visitor evacuation planning, including for operations with multiple properties, seasonal workers and agritourism, and
• safety and legal considerations when using open burning.

If you have questions about hosting a workshop, reach out to support@firesmartbc.ca or amy.norgaard@gov.bc.ca