Emergency Management and Climate Readiness
Summary
- Seasonal forecasts indicate an elevated risk of wildfire and drought in parts of British Columbia this summer
- As the Province works with local governments and First Nations to prepare for summer hazards, people are encouraged to stay informed and take steps to be prepared
- As drought occurs and water scarcity risks increase, people are encouraged to reduce water use and follow local water restrictions
__________
As British Columbia enters another summer that could be hotter and drier than usual, the Province is urging people and communities to prepare for potential impacts of wildfire, drought and water scarcity.
“Climate change is rewriting what we consider normal in British Columbia, with warmer, drier conditions increasing the risk of wildfire and drought,” said Kelly Greene, Minister of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness. “The Province is ready to support people and communities when emergencies happen, and I encourage everyone – whether you live in B.C. or are visiting – to have an emergency plan, stay alert to conditions and follow the guidance of local authorities.”
The Ministry of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness (EMCR) is working closely with local governments and First Nations to prepare for the summer hazards, including hosting preparedness sessions throughout the province. EMCR is available 24/7 to support communities before, during and after emergencies.
Wildfire outlook
Temperatures are increasing throughout B.C., and with that comes an elevated risk of wildfire. Although much of the province experienced a cooler, wetter start to June, the Chilcotin, lower Thompson, Okanagan, Vancouver Island and northeast regions of B.C. are continuing to experience prolonged drought and are expected to remain at high risk for wildfire throughout the summer.
"With long-range forecasts showing a warmer than normal summer across much of the province, people in B.C. have been in this position before,” said Ravi Parmar, Minister of Forests. “The BC Wildfire Service is getting to work every day in protecting communities and reducing the risks. But they cannot do it alone: Do your part, stay informed and be FireSmart.”
Preparedness for the 2026 wildfire season builds on actions taken to strengthen the BC Wildfire Service, including:
- expanding the service’s on-the-ground firefighting equipment, such as new trucks and new trailers with water-delivery tools
- buying mechanical equipment, including pumps, saws and safety gear
- adding camp infrastructure to help firefighters with easier deployment in more places and for longer periods
- multi-year investments in predictive tools and technology, such as enhanced wildfire camera networks and advanced fire-behaviour prediction system
- investing in the Wildfire Reduction Equipment Support Trust to support wildfire-risk reduction and commercial thinning projects
Regardless of where people live or travel in B.C., it’s critical that everyone does their part to reduce the risk of wildfire. People are urged to be aware of their local fire danger, including open burning prohibitions, and to report wildfires on the BC Wildfire app or by calling *5555.
Drought outlook
The Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship continues to monitor drought and water scarcity conditions, support local governments and First Nations on their response planning, and invest in long-term water security, including through the $100-million Watershed Security Fund.
The River Forecast Centre snowpack survey provides insight into how people and communities in B.C. could be affected by drought. The latest survey released on June 1 2026, show B.C.’s overall snowpack is at 64% of normal. Comparatively, in June 2025, the provincial snowpack averaged 44% of normal. Low snowpack, early snowmelt and warm seasonal weather forecasts are elevating drought hazards for this upcoming season, particularly along the southern coast, including Vancouver Island, and the southern Interior.
The BC Drought Information Portal is now live for this year and includes a new water-scarcity level system being piloted in select watersheds, to support locally defined assessments of water scarcity risks at the watershed scale. For more information and to sign up for the new Drought and Water Scarcity Bulletin, visit: https://droughtportal.gov.bc.ca/
“It’s not even summer yet, but many watersheds are already under strain, signalling rising water scarcity risks,” said Randene Neill, Minister of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship. “We have been working with First Nations, local governments, industry and farmers and using tools like our Drought Information Portal and a pilot system to better assess watershed-level conditions. When we all use water more efficiently and prepare early, we can reduce impacts and protect water for communities.”
Seasonal preparedness
To prepare for hazards, people are encouraged to create or refresh their emergency plan, build grab-and-go bags, create an Emergency Support Services profile through the BC Services Card app, and ensure they have renter’s or homeowner’s insurance coverage.
The Province recognizes that not everyone has the resources to meet their needs during an emergency. In the event of an evacuation, Emergency Support Services (ESS) will provide temporary support to people who are unable to meet their basic needs, such as accommodation, clothing, food and incidentals. Having an ESS profile beforehand can make it easier and quicker to receive support.
People travelling in the province are encouraged to have a plan in the event of an emergency. This includes understanding potential hazards in the area they are travelling to, understanding their travel insurance options, and being prepared to adjust plans if needed.
Information on all evacuation orders and evacuation alerts in B.C., including recommended actions to take, is available 24/7 at EmergencyInfoBC.ca.
Quick Facts:
- The Province issues BC Emergency Alerts to cellphones, radio and television for emergencies, such as wildfires, flood, extreme heat and tsunamis.
- Natural Resources Canada issues alerts for earthquakes.
- Since 2017, the Province has provided more than $580 million for approximately 2,940 disaster-preparedness and mitigation projects administered through the Ministry of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness.
- The Province is supporting solutions informed by on-the-ground knowledge from local partners, including boosting water storage with farmers.
- Since 2023, the B.C. government has invested $100 million into the Agriculture Water Infrastructure Program to support nearly 700 projects to build or improve water storage and supply systems in water-scarce and drought-prone areas.
Learn More:
- To learn more about how to prepare for emergencies, visit: https://PreparedBC.ca/
- For information on evacuation alerts and orders, visit: https://EmergencyInfoBC.ca
or follow @EmergencyInfoBC on X or Facebook. - Visitors are encouraged to learn more about travel planning and information during emergencies, by visiting: https://www.supernaturalbc.com/practical-tips/know-before-you-go/
- To learn about how to prepare for wildfires, visit: https://firesmartbc.ca/
- To learn more about open burning safety, visit: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/safety/wildfire-status
- Real-time wildfire information can be found on the BC Wildfire Service mobile app, which is available for Apple and Android users.
- To register with Emergency Support Services, visit: https://ess.gov.bc.ca/
- To read the latest snowpack bulletin and learn about flood conditions and advisories, visit: https://gov.bc.ca/riverforecast
- To learn about how to prepare for drought and water scarcity, visit: https://gov.bc.ca/Drought
