Okanagan Wildfire Coexistence Fund

As global temperatures rise, the risk of wildfires seems to be all around us. BC’s rural and urban communities at the interface of forested lands are especially vulnerable to the impacts of smoke, evacuation alerts and intense wildfire fire events. From threats to public safety, to health impacts, and the devastating loss of homes and vital infrastructure, wildfire is a reality deeply embedded in our lives. Now is the time to seek solutions.

For over a century, BC’s wildfire response has largely focused on fire suppression, leading to low public awareness of the ecological importance of fire, disrupted natural cycles and dangerous fuel accumulations. To live safely in fire-prone regions and prepare for a future where wildfire is unavoidable, we need to shift perspectives and equip communities with the knowledge and tools to coexist with wildfire.

Located in one of the most fire-prone regions of the province, and a key partner in UBC’s Centre for Wildfire Coexistence, UBC Okanagan’s Irving K. Barber Faculty of Science is working alongside impacted communities to drive the urgent change we need in wildfire management. Researchers are gathering critical data through remote camera and wildfire sensor networks and refining predictive fire behavior models with the goal of developing user-friendly, real-time risk assessment tools. This work is advancing strategies to reduce wildfire risk before it escalates into disaster, improving community preparedness and response to wildfire.

Your gift to the Okanagan Wildfire Coexistence Fund will accelerate this critical work. It will strengthen and grow the wildfire research program at UBC Okanagan, expanding our capacity to deliver on-the-ground, science-based solutions to the communities that need them most. With your support, we can equip these communities with the innovative tools and technology they need to better navigate the growing threats of wildfire, and promote the safe adoption of proactive management approaches like prescribed fire, reducing long-term risk and supporting healthier forests across our province.

By giving to the Okanagan Wildfire Coexistence Fund you will play a pivotal role in tackling the diverse challenges of wildfires in our communities. Together, we can drive groundbreaking advancements in wildfire science, enhance community resilience and build a safer future.