‘A wake-up’: Whistler, B.C., known for its snow, to start wildfire drills

First responders will be running an emergency evacuation drill on April 18, part of the resort community's recently developed wildfire defence plan.

It’s a community best known for its snow, but later this month Whistler, B.C., will be running an emergency simulation for a threat that’s becoming ever more present: fire.

First responders will be running an emergency evacuation drill on April 18, part of the resort community’s recent Community Wildfire Resiliency Plan as drought and climate change continue to intensify fire behaviour and the threat to life it presents.

“Whistler is in the trees, we live in the forest, so it’s a real priority for us to understand risk and then do everything in our power to ensure we are prepared,” Mayor Jack Crompton told Global News on Thursday.

The community has been implementing recommendations from a recent report into wildfire preparedness, which includes a recognition that Highway 99 is the only way in and out of the community. Whistler has become an early adopter of implementing evacuation and defence plans for individual neighbourhoods to help streamline its emergency response.

“We will be working the plan. We will be practising it. This is the first of many opportunities for our communities to learn about these plans and make them more resilient and robust over time,” Crompton said.

“We are pleased with the plan we have established but we just cannot afford to take our eye off the ball, we need to continue to be committed to improving every day so we are prepared when an event happens.”

Residents are also being included in wildfire preparedness plans, with a heavy focus on education and encouragement to FireSmart their properties.

The FireSmart approach involves managing properties to eliminate potential fuel sources and clear areas around homes so as to starve possible fires of attack vectors.