Canada has not adequately prepared wildland residential areas for wildfires, according to a new study published by researchers at Ontario's York University.
The study, which also included Australia and the US, highlighted a crucial need for changes in the construction and maintenance of homes in fire-prone areas.
In analyzing 78 journal articles about the topic, co-authors Eric B. Kennedy and Sarah Cowan found that while solutions exist, several factors hinder the effective implementation of wildfire mitigation measures.
According to Kennedy, associate professor of disaster and emergency management at the university, many houses constructed in wildland communities replicate old designs that do not consider future fire prevention. The financial burden of implementing these features, combined with the rising cost of living and higher home insurance premiums, has made wildfire mitigation inaccessible for most residents.
"It's not just one problem, but it's a problem multiplied by a problem, multiplied by another problem, and all of those factors multiplying on each other leads to the kinds of tragedies we see today," Kennedy said in an interview with CTV News.
The country has seen one of its worst wildfire seasons this year, with more than 6,000 fires consuming 16.5 million hectares of land, according to Natural Resources Canada.
Responding to the widespread impact that these record-breaking fires have caused, Canada has introduced various programs focused on firefighting training, wildfire monitoring systems, and investments in wildland communities.
While Kennedy acknowledged the importance of these wildfire response initiatives, he also stressed the need for coordinated efforts across all levels of government and private sectors, including the insurance industry.
His recommendations include improving housing guidelines to mandate quality construction for both new and existing homes in wildland communities and having insurance companies cover the cost of rebuilding more durable homes after a wildfire or even helping homeowners prepare for disasters.
"There are almost pressures from the way insurance payouts are made to build back with the same kind of construction that led to loss in the first place, and so I think there are really exciting opportunities for companies to be part of the solution," Kennedy told CTV News.
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