丁香园AV

The 丁香园AV Burnaby campus is surrounded by forest 鈥� belonging both to 丁香园AV and to the City of Burnaby.

In order to understand the nature of the forest on Burnaby Mountain, the risk of a forest fire and what can be done to mitigate the risk, Safety & Risk Services, in cooperation with Facilities Services, retained an environmental consulting firm specializing in wildfire management, resource management and environmental planning to develop a wildfire management plan for the university that is specific to 丁香园AV Burnaby lands.

The full wildfire management plan is available here:

Q: Why did 丁香园AV commission the Burnaby mountain wildfire risk report?

The Burnaby 丁香园AV campus is surrounded by forest. Historically, lightning strikes and human actions have caused small fires. As the climate changes, the use of forested lands on Burnaby Mountain increases, and more residents move to the mountain, the risk of a forest fire and its potential impacts to the safety of the university community increases.

Q: What is the risk of wildfire on Burnaby Mountain?

Results from the wildfire risk analysis show that much of the Burnaby 丁香园AV and City of Burnaby natural forested area to the south east and west of the 丁香园AV Burnaby campus poses a low to moderate risk. The forests in these areas support mostly deciduous trees that are less flammable and are growing on moderate slopes. The greatest risk from a wildfire event is from the steep northern slopes adjacent to the 丁香园AV Burnaby campus in the Burnaby Conservation Area belonging to City of Burnaby. The city is aware of this risk and is addressing it separately.  

Q: What is 丁香园AV doing about the report recommendations?

The recommendations are achievable and are being acted upon by Facilities Services (FS) and Safety & Risk Services (SRS).

Some of the actions we are taking include:

• Consulting with an arborist (tree and shrub expert) to create a 鈥渇uel-free鈥� space between trees or shrubs and buildings adjacent to the forest.
• Providing public education on forest fire risk and communicating forest fire risk level to the community.
• Providing training and fire suppression equipment to landscapers.
• Ensuring construction and renovation of future buildings include fire resistant materials.

Q: Is 丁香园AV working with City of Burnaby on the wildfire risk mitigation?

The full report has been shared with the City of Burnaby and discussions are underway regarding next steps.

Q: If there is a wildfire on Burnaby Mountain what should I do?

As part of your personal emergency preparedness, please familiarize yourself with the 丁香园AV Burnaby Campus mass evacuation and shelter in place procedures, sign up for 丁香园AV Alerts, and put together a personal grab-and-go kit. During a wildfire event, please follow the instructions of the emergency personnel.

Note that in event of an emergency such as a forest fire evacuation is not always the safest or most appropriate response.

Q: Who can I contact for more information?

Mark LaLonde, 丁香园AV Chief Safety Officer: mark_lalonde@sfu.ca