The BC Wildfire Service has taken a unique step forward, launching a new mobile app to provide real-time information and wildfire stats for members of the public.
The official app, which is now available on both Android and Apple iOS, will feature an interactive wildfire map, statistics, latest news, a ‘Near Me’ function, and a fire reporting tool, among other things.
According to a BC Government press release, the tool is meant to complement the current digital channels being used by the BC Wildfire Service, like their website and social media channels.
“The new app is one of many proactive initiatives undertaken by the BC Wildfire Service to give members of the public, media and stakeholders access to consistent, accurate and timely wildfire information throughout the province,” reads a statement in the release.
As far as navigation goes, the app’s landing page is an interactive map of the province that includes:
- current fire danger ratings
- active fires
- fires that have been declared “out”
- open burning prohibitions (including campfire bans)
- evacuation alerts and evacuation orders
- area restrictions
- current wildfire statistics
- perimeters of wildfires for the current season (April 1 through March 31 of the following year)
- boundaries of B.C.’s six regional fire centres
- BC Parks closures and recreation site closures
- wildfire search tool (search by active fire name, fire number or location)
- Drive BC events (e.g., advisories and closures)
BC Wildfire Services elaborated on the ‘Near Me’ function in their press release, suggesting that it will hyper-focus on one area when selected and “only display information within a 50-kilometre radius of their current location.”
The news stream inside the app will include the latest advisories and warnings, as well as streamline BC Wildfire’s Twitter feed. It is important to note you do not need a Twitter account to read the latest tweets.
Important statistics that will be made readily available for the current season (April 1 through March 31 of the following year) include:
- a rolling total of all active wildfires
- a rolling total of all wildfires (active and extinguished)
- the number of wildfires detected in the last two days
- the number of wildfires detected in the last seven days
According to the BC Wildfire Service press release, these statistics will be updated with real-time information that can be “filtered by fire centre, suspected cause, stage of control, current year fires or active fires.”
Lastly, the tool is intended to make reporting a fire easier for the public as well. By using the reporting function, the app will generate coordinates of the current location of the user, which can then be conveyed to fire authorities.
“The BC Wildfire Service relies on the public to report wildfires and irresponsible behaviour that could start a wildfire…Provincial Wildfire Reporting Centre staff will ask for these co-ordinates when the user reports a wildfire.”
The mobile app is free to download.
In addition to the BC Wildfire Service’s new app, the BC Government is also introducing a new digital registration system for Emergency Support Services (ESS).
The new provincial platform will be available for communities to provide evacuee self-registration, digital registration and referrals, and basic reporting.
Graham Cox
