Wildfire Management
Blackwell is at the forefront of wildfire risk assessment and management.
With over thirty years of experience working with private and public sector clients, our firm provides the required depth of experience for all aspects of wildfire management and resiliency. From provincial and municipal policy development, through landscape and site-level planning, to operational implementation of wildfire risk mitigation and prevention activities. We have highly qualified forest professionals with diverse expertise in wildfire firefighting, silviculture, natural sciences, forest development, urban forestry, and arboriculture.
We are dedicated to providing top-tier wildfire management services and consistently apply the latest scientific advancements and best practices to achieve our clients’ goals.
Community
Wildfire Planning
Blackwell’s wildfire team offers comprehensive and professional support to municipalities, regional districts and First Nations communities involved in all stages of wildfire risk reduction projects. From funding applications to Community Wildfire Resiliency Plan preparation, we have decades of experience assisting clients. Our community wildfire planning services include:
- Community Wildfire Resiliency Plans
- Community Resiliency Investment (CRI) funding applications
- Local FireSmart program assistance
- Community FireSmart events and workshops
- Home Ignition Zone Assessments and Critical Infrastructure Assessments
- FireSmart Neighbourhood Assessments and Plans
- Forest Enhancement Society of BC (FESBC) funding applications
Operational
Fuel Management
We take pride in helping public and private sector clients to reduce their wildfire risk by planning and supervising all phases of fuel management operations. Blackwell’s team excels in developing practical, ecologically sound, and socially acceptable fuel management prescriptions for complex sites across coastal and interior ecosystems in BC. We offer comprehensive guidance at all phases and scales of operational fuel management activities, including treatment prioritization, site-level prescription preparation, project tendering, and professional oversight.
- Fuel management prescriptions
- Cultural fire and prescribed burn prescriptions
- Implementation contract preparation and tendering
- Operational supervision of fuel management treatments, including as Prime Contractor
- Post-treatment monitoring and reporting
- Fuel treatment program audits and third-party assessments

Landscape-level Planning
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Our team excels in wildfire management planning beyond the community level. We provide wildfire assessments at the regional and landscape level for governmental clients such as BC Parks, BC Wildfire Service, and the Ministry of Forests. Our landscape-level plans seamlessly combine our field-based operational knowledge with our substantial GIS expertise (see Wildfire Hazard Assessments and Modelling) to provide strategic recommendations that further wildfire risk reduction goals.
- BC Parks Fire Management Plans
- Wildland Urban Interface Wildfire Risk Reduction Plans / Tactical Plans
- Regional Wildfire Resiliency Plans

Wildfire Hazard Assessments & Modelling
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Blackwell’s geospatial Wildfire Risk Management System forms the cornerstone of our wildfire management projects. This modelling methodology identifies the probability and consequence of wildfire to key values-at-risk to guide clients in prioritizing wildfire risk reduction activities.
We also provide expertise with the application and interpretation of industry-standard wildfire behaviour modelling tools. We deliver comprehensive and customizable wildfire risk assessments and modeling that can be tailored to large or small scales.
- Wildfire Risk Management System assessments
- Site-level risk assessments of infrastructure including utilities
- Wildfire behavior modelling services including BurnP3, Prometheus, FARSITE, FlamMap, US Behave Plus, and the Canadian Forest Fire Behaviour Prediction System (CFFBPS)
- Vegetation cover updates and fuel type assessment

Development & Policy
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Blackwell’s wildfire management services are seamlessly integrated into our Urban Forestry services. We specialize in Wildfire Hazard Development Permit Area policy development as well as assessment and reporting for individual property developments. We have provided comprehensive guidance in all manners of wildfire-related policy for governments, agencies and private sector clients. Additionally, we provide expert testimony in legal cases related to wildfires.
- Wildfire Hazard Development Permit Area development
- Local wildfire policy development
- Wildfire hazard site assessment and reporting
- Expert testimony and legal opinions
Wildfire Response,
Recovery and Restoration
Our firm’s foundation in ecological based forestry and strong understanding of wildfire behavior and response allow us to deliver exceptional services in post-wildfire recovery, from assessment to planning and delivery of restoration activities.
- Post-wildfire response and rehabilitation planning
- Ecological restoration assessments and prescriptions
- Planting prescriptions and supervision
- Monitoring program development and data collection
Provincial Strategic
Threat Analysis
A key accomplishment includes the development of the head fire intensity layer for the provincial strategic threat analysis, which serves as a critical tool in prioritizing fire suppression efforts across various landscapes. This tool has become an integral part of wildfire probability and consequence mapping, helping agencies like BC Hydro and other clients to allocate resources more effectively.

Fire Risk Assessments Across British Columbia
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The team has been involved in fire risk assessments in critical areas such as the Vancouver and Victoria watersheds. These assessments aim to protect essential resources from fire damage while guiding management practices. Their work has spanned thousands of hectares, implementing fuel management treatments to reduce the likelihood and severity of fires.

The Impact of Fire Suppression Policies
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Since the 1940s, fire suppression policies have unintentionally created a homogeneous fuel grid, increasing the overall fire risk. These policies, combined with climate change, have led to more intense fire seasons. The susceptibility of forests to pests, further accelerated by these policies, has resulted in an alarming increase in forest mortality, raising significant concerns for both public and private landowners.

The Future of Fire Management
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As fire seasons continue to worsen, a forward-looking approach is required to combat the escalating risks. The firm’s fire management plans integrate probability and consequence mapping to guide decision-making, ensuring that fire suppression efforts are targeted where they are most needed. Through continuous adaptation and innovation, they remain at the forefront of fire management, contributing significantly to both public and private sector strategies.

Litigation and Expert Witness Testimony
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Blackwells fire management expertise has also been leveraged in high-profile litigation cases. As expert witnesses, they have testified in significant lawsuits. These legal battles highlight the economic and environmental stakes of fire management, with expert reports and courtroom testimony playing a pivotal role in shaping outcomes.
Other Related Services
Blackwell’s depth of forestry expertise, experienced wildfire team, and robust corporate framework enable us to confidently offer a wide range of professional wildfire management services beyond those mentioned.
Please contact us to discuss how Blackwell can help you achieve your goals.