Sun Peaks Community Wildfire Resiliency Plan
Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality is located within a wildland-urban interface (WUI), where homes, critical infrastructure, and recreational areas are surrounded by forested landscapes. Wildfire is a natural part of British Columbia’s ecosystems and changing climate conditions are increasing the frequency and intensity of wildfires across the province.
The Sun Peaks Community Wildfire Resiliency Plan (CWRP) was developed to proactively identify wildfire risks and guide actions that reduce those risks before an emergency occurs. The plan provides a coordinated, evidence-based approach to wildfire mitigation, emergency planning, and long-term community resilience.
The CWRP helps Sun Peaks:
- Understand local wildfire hazards and community vulnerabilities
- Prioritize mitigation and fuel-management projects
- Protect homes, neighbourhoods, and critical infrastructure
- Support FireSmart programming and homeowner action
- Strengthen coordination between municipal, provincial, and regional partners
- Inform land-use planning and future development decisions
By planning, Sun Peaks is taking responsible, preventative steps to reduce wildfire risk while maintaining the safety, function, and character of the community.
What is a Wildland-Urban Interface?
The Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) is the area where homes, neighbourhoods, and infrastructure meet or are intermixed with forests, grasslands, or other natural vegetation. In these areas, wildfire can spread between natural landscapes and built environments, increasing the risk to people, property, and essential services.
For the purposes of funding eligibility under the FireSmart Community Funding & Supports program, the WUI within Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality is defined as areas within one kilometre of higher-density development, and this definition was used to delineate WUI areas for actions identified in the Community Wildfire Resiliency Plan.
Why the WUI Matters
Communities located in the WUI face unique wildfire challenges because:
- Vegetation is close to buildings
- Fire can move quickly from wildland areas into neighbourhoods
- Embers can travel long distances and ignite homes
- Emergency access and evacuation can be more complex
Many BC communities, including resort and mountain communities, are located partially or entirely within the WUI.
Sun Peaks and the WUI
Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality is located within the Wildland-Urban Interface, with residential neighbourhoods, resort infrastructure, and recreational areas surrounded by forested landscapes.
Because of this, wildfire risk reduction requires a shared responsibility between:
- Homeowners and strata corporations
- Business owners
- The municipality and land managers
Reducing Risk in the WUI
Wildfire risk in the WUI can be reduced through:
- FireSmart actions around homes and neighbourhoods
- Fuel management on public lands
- Thoughtful land-use planning and development practices
- Emergency planning and community preparedness
What Is Fuel Management?
Fuel management refers to actions taken to reduce or modify vegetation that can contribute to wildfire ignition, spread, and intensity.
In wildfire science, “fuel” includes:
- Trees and shrubs
- Dead branches and fallen needles
- Dense undergrowth and ladder fuels
- Accumulated debris on the forest floor
Fuel management focuses on changing how a fire behaves, not eliminating fire entirely.