When wildfires threaten the Okanagan Valley in B.C.’s Interior, rural properties are particularly vulnerable.
However, losing your property doesn’t have to be inevitable.
Local ranchers and farmers learned how to reduce the risk of property loss at a wildfire preparedness workshop held in the north Okanagan on Thursday.
The session provided in-depth details of how farmers can give their buildings the best chance of survival when flames approach.
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“If people take the necessary precautions to mitigate their home from the threat of wildfire … we can prevent structure loss in 95 per cent of the cases,” said Kevin Smith, a wildfire mitigation specialist who was leading the workshop.
The event, held at the fire hall in Armstrong, B.C., attracted dozens of people from the agricultural sector.
The session was conducted by the B.C. Agriculture and Food Climate Action Initiative.
More resources about wildfire preparedness are available on their website.