A new survey from Transition Salt Spring shows that Salt Spring Island, BC, residents are deeply concerned about wildfire danger, with many already taking steps to protect their properties. The group gathered 459 responses from across the island in July 2026.
Nearly 80 percent of people who answered said they have moderate to high worry about wildfire risk. Another 81 percent are anxious about hotter, drier summers on the way. Jennie Sparkes, the Wildfire Ready project lead for Transition Salt Spring, said the results paint a clear picture. “When people understand their wildfire vulnerabilities, know what actions to take, and have the resources they need, they are much more likely to get started,” she said.
The survey found that 85 percent of respondents have already taken steps to lower wildfire risk on their own land. Actions include clearing combustible materials, trimming back plants, and keeping a safe space around homes. Two-thirds also said they are concerned about wetlands drying up and how that ties into wildfire danger.
One of the biggest factors in whether people act is their knowledge of FireSmart principles. Nearly 97 percent of those very familiar with FireSmart had made changes to their property. Among those who had never heard of it, fewer than half had taken any steps. This shows the power of education, Sparkes noted.
Almost 80 percent of Salt Spring’s rare Coastal Douglas-fir forest sits on private land, so homeowners have a major role in restoring the forest and cutting fire risk. Transition Salt Spring is using the survey feedback to guide its wildfire readiness work as BC heads into what experts call the highest and most sustained wildfire risk in Canada this year. Fire activity is expected to peak in July and August, with El Niño conditions bringing an 80 percent chance of hotter, drier weather through summer.
