This section contains information pertaining to emergencies affecting oil and gas operating areas in British Columbia.
Companies are encouraged to keep staff informed of evolving hazards. Material posted to this page has been provided in partnership with other agencies.
Additional information on Emergency Response and Safety is located on the Energy Professionals section of this website.
Reminder for Evacuation Reporting
In the event of a natural disaster where a facility is threatened and evacuation becomes necessary, companies must report the status of affected locations.
General Incident Reports (GIRs) are sent to Emergency Management BC (EMBC) and must include the facility name, identification, location, and status (shut-in, etc.). Companies must also report any hazardous products and the amounts left on site. This information is for the protection of first responders working in the facility area.
To report facility status, please contact EMBC’s 24/hr Reporting Line at 1-800-663-3456.
BC Wildfire Service Links
Please note: Wildfire data may not reflect the most current fire situation, and therefore should only be used for reference purposes. Wildfire data is refreshed when practicable and individual fire update frequency will vary. The information is intended for general purposes only and should not be relied on as accurate because fires are dynamic and circumstances may change quickly.
Please monitor the BC Wildfire Services Website and wildfire mapping to see if your assets are affected. If they are, please contact emp@bc-er.ca for more information regarding a status update call.
For any permit holders deciding to shut-in operations, please report status to EMBC through their 1-800-663-3456 line.
If staff at any facility become aware of a new fire in their vicinity, please report directly to Wildfire Management at 1-800-663-5555.
Real-time wildfire information and an interactive map are now available through the new BC Wildfire Service mobile app.
Wildfire Mapping Data may be downloaded and imported in to most common mapping tools.
Wildfire location points for the current fire season, includes both active and inactive fires. Data is updated from the operational systems every two hours.
Wildfire perimeters for the current fire season, including both active and inactive fires, supplied from various sources. The data is refreshed from operational systems nightly.
Category 2, Category 3, Resource Open Management Fires to be prohibited
Effective at noon (Pacific time) on Thursday, April 16, 2020, most open burning activities will be prohibited throughout British Columbia to reduce the likelihood of human-caused wildfires, although campfires will still be allowed.
The following activities will be prohibited, and these restrictions will remain in effect until the public is otherwise notified:
- Category 2 open fires;
- Category 3 open fires;
- Resource Management open fires;
- the use of fireworks;
- the use of sky lanterns; and
- the use of burn barrels or burn cages of any size or description (except when used for a campfire).
For a map of the affected areas and updates to these prohibitions, refer to the Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development webpage.
Fire Hazard Assessment Guidelines from the Forest Practices Board
The Forest Practices Board has issued a bulletin on fire hazard assessment. This may be applicable to some oil and gas operators.
FireSmart Guidebook for Oil and Gas Industry
The FireSmart Guidebook for the Oil and Gas Industry addresses both the threat of wildfire to industry values as well as the potential liability of the oil and gas industry. This document is a guide for industry planning engineers and safety program managers. Although the document is Alberta-based, the guidebook is widely accepted across Western Canada, and is recognized by Wildfire Management Branch, Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resources.