by Cheryl Evans, Dr. Anabela Bonada and Dr. Blair Feltmate
In 2023, Canada experienced a wildfire season of unprecedented scale, shattering the previous record set in 1995 by twofold, and contributing to insurable losses estimated to exceed $3 billion (according to CatIQ). Fires burned 18.5 million hectares — three times the size of Nova Scotia, and eight times greater than the average annual area burned over the past 25 years. Smoke and flames triggered the evacuation of 200,000 residents and ignited nation-wide calls for large-scale investment in preventative action to create wildfire-ready homes and communities.
A new report, by the University of Waterloo’s Intact Centre on Climate Adaptation, offers practical guidance to help Canadians living in forested and grassland regions to follow well-tested actions that can reduce the risk of their home burning by up to 75 per cent.
The report consolidates two plain language, image-based infographics, designed to accelerate implementation of practical actions.