The BC Wildfire Service detects wildfires using a variety of methods, but the biggest source of wildfire reports comes from the public calling 1-800-663-5555 or *5555 on a cell phone. These calls ring through to a member of the Provincial Wildfire Reporting Centre (PWRC) in Victoria, B.C. The team receives wildfire reports from all over the province and has staff available 24 hours a day, seven days a week during fire season.
The training and preparation that call centre staff members go through prior to the beginning of wildfire season is thorough and ensures they can capture valuable wildfire information in a timely manner and remain calm when taking emergency calls.
If you report a wildfire, you will be asked a series of questions that help our operational teams make wildfire response decisions. These questions include specific geographic information to better understand where the report is coming from and where the fire is in relation to the caller.
Other questions are designed to understand how the fire is behaving, what could potentially be burning and how quickly the fire may be spreading.
What information does the PWRC request when you report a wildfire?
Weather
The weather is an important factor which greatly influences fire behaviour and varies across the province. For this reason, it is important to note if it’s windy, the wind speed and direction, the temperature, if there is any ongoing lightning and any other weather-related information.
Smoke colour
Callers will be asked to describe the colour of smoke they are seeing – is it white, black, grey, brown etc. The colour of the smoke can help indicate what is burning and how intensely it is burning.
Size
The size of the fire or amount of smoke is an important detail to note as it can also help identify what is burning. Different fuels, such as grasses or big trees, have varying levels of moisture and therefore release different amounts of smoke and water vapour. The size can indicate if it is spreading and how quickly it may be growing. Describing the size relative to a truck, house or football field can be helpful. You may be asked if the smoke is in a column or a cloud, if it is going straight up or if the wind is blowing it over.
Fuel type
Different fuel types burn at different rates and intensities. It is helpful to know if the caller is reporting a grass fire or fire in thick timber.
Values
Values may include life and property, infrastructure, rail, hydro or watersheds. A fire that is within one kilometre of structures and is threatening life and property may be considered an interface fire if there is visible flame, the fire is at least the size of a house and it is spreading quickly.
Rate of spread
How quickly is the fire growing?
Response
In some cases, responders may already be on scene. Whether it be fire department, police, or members of the public attempting to extinguish the fire, it is best to report as much detail as possible so BC Wildfire Service crews have an idea of what they are responding to. Though response may be multi-agency, the PWRC is not connected to 911 dispatchers and cannot triangulate caller’s locations.
Geographic area
Each wildfire report is plotted on a map, relative to everything the caller describes. This is why you will be asked where you’re calling from and your direction and distance to the fire.
Caller’s contact information
Finally, you will be asked to provide contact information and if you are available for a callback. It is optional to provide contact information, but it can be helpful in case wildfire officers need to contact you directly for more information about the report.
All of this information is entered into wildfire reporting software and sent to the closest fire centre for action by regional dispatchers and wildfire officers.
To obtain information about an active wildfire, call 1-888-3FOREST. The PWRC does not have information on current wildfires and calling them for information impacts their ability to respond to emerging incidents.