Community Wildfire Protection Plans (CWPPs) are local plans that are designed to specifically address a community’s unique conditions, values, and priorities related to wildfire risk reduction and resilience. CWPPs were introduced in 2004 as part of the provincial Strategic Wildfire Prevention Initiative and served as the primary wildfire risk reduction planning mechanism for British Columbia communities. The purpose of a CWPP is to identify the wildfire risks primarily within the administrative boundary, to describe the potential consequences if a wildfire was to impact the community, and to examine possible ways to reduce the wildfire risk. The goal is to define the threat to human life, property and critical infrastructure from wildfires in an identified area, identify measures necessary to mitigate those threats and outline a plan of action to implement the measures.

The CWPP for the RDOS was first completed in 2011 and was updated in 2020. Additionally, CWPPs have been completed for the municipalities of Summerland, Penticton, Oliver, Keremeos, and Princeton.

• RDOS CWPP

The BC Wildfire Service is tasked with managing wildfires through a combination of wildfire prevention, mitigation and suppression strategies, on both Crown and private lands outside of organised areas such as municipalities or regional districts.

• Wildfire Prevention

• BC Wildfire Service

• Current Wildfire Activity

An Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) is activated when there is a significant event that includes:

• Significant number of people at risk
• Response coordination required because of
  • Large or widespread event
  • Multiple emergency sites
  • Several responding agencies
• Resource coordination required because of
  • Limited local resources, and
  • Significant need for outside resources
• Uncertain conditions
  • Possibility of escalation of the event
  • Unknown extent of damage
• Potential threat to people, property and / or environment
• Declaration of a State of Local Emergency is made

RDOS Emergency Operations Centre (EOC)

CivicReady® Mass Notification System

Within the South Okanagan there are a wide range of stakeholders and interests that have varying levels of ability to impact the mitigation and prevention of wildfires. To this end a multi-level governance structure seeks to bring stakeholders together to participate in the dialogue, decision making, and implementation of solutions to mitigate and prevent wildfires.

The South Okanagan-Similkameen Wildfire Prevention Advisory Working Group (SOSWPAWG) is established to assist local authorities and land managers in developing and setting strategic direction for South Okanagan-Similkameen wildfire prevention and mitigation activities. The SOSWPAWG engages in a productive working relationship and/or partnership to influence other stakeholders and initiates actions towards achieving wildfire mitigation and prevention.