{"id":344,"date":"2022-06-15T19:25:57","date_gmt":"2022-06-15T19:25:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/xy4.co.uk\/?p=344"},"modified":"2023-10-10T09:43:42","modified_gmt":"2023-10-10T09:43:42","slug":"what-to-do-for-your-business-before-during-and-after-a-wildfire","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/xy4.co.uk\/index.php\/2022\/06\/15\/what-to-do-for-your-business-before-during-and-after-a-wildfire\/","title":{"rendered":"What to do for your business before, during, and after a wildfire"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"wildfire<\/div>\n

In 2021, severe weather caused $2.1 billion in insured catastrophic losses in Canada,\u00a0according to the Insurance Bureau of Canada<\/a>\u00a0(IBC). While there are many types of severe weather, wildfires are especially costly. For example, in 2021, there were two wildfires \u2014 in Lytton and White Rock Lake, B.C. \u2014 with a combined insured loss of $179 million.<\/p>\n

Most wildfires occur between April and September in Canada, particularly in Canada\u2019s forests and grasslands. An average of 8,000 wildfires a year burn 2.5 million hectares,\u00a0according to the Canadian Red Cross<\/a>.<\/p>\n

It has been predicted in a federal climate change report<\/a>\u00a0that extreme heat will become more frequent and intense, which will increase the severity of heatwaves, droughts, and wildfire risks. \u00a0Drier conditions in Canadian forests and grasslands may seem harmless, but with an increase in summer lightning incidences, it can lead to wildfires.<\/p>\n

How wildfires impact businesses:<\/h2>\n

A wildfire could be blazing over a kilometre away, but buildings and structures are still at risk of sustaining significant damage from it, even if it\u2019s not that close by. The reason?<\/strong> Burning embers can get carried by winds, and if there is flammable material near the property (dry plant matter), the risk is heightened.<\/p>\n

While fire damage is a primary concern, there are other wildfire-related complications that can impact a business, including evacuation and shutdown orders, business interruption due to lack of access and damage to critical infrastructure such as power lines. Business owners may also suffer a loss in income if their business is shut down while rebuilding after a fire.<\/p>\n

Steps businesses can take to be prepared for wildfires<\/h2>\n

Creating a wildfire action plan can help minimize the negative impact and damages that occur due to a wildfire. Here are some things to consider before, during, and after a wildfire:<\/p>\n

Before wildfire season starts:<\/h3>\n

Failure to plan is a plan to fail. A wildfire response plan should be created and made accessible to all employees. The plan should include the following:<\/p>\n