TORONTO, Aug. 09, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Colin Robertson, Vice President, Operations and Risk Control at Ecclesiastical Insurance reminds property owners to be prepared for wildfires that have become a summer norm in several provinces. These fires pose an ever-increasing threat to many communities across Canada as evidenced by the current fires in British Columbia and northern Ontario.
As of August 1, 2018, there have been 4,976 wildfires in Canada; a little over the 10-year national average of 4,396 – but a disturbing increase from this time last year when there were 2,275 wildfires over the same period.
Natural Resources Canada http://www.nrcan.gc.ca/forests/fire-insects-disturbances/fire/13155, cites climate change as the main cause for the increase in fires in Canada’s boreal forests, and predicts a potential doubling of the amount of area burned by the end of this century, compared with amounts burned in recent decades.
There are many pre-emptive measures that can be taken to protect property. The first step is often the most effective — clearing combustible debris away from buildings — including obvious things like dry grass, leaves, brush, stacks of firewood, etc., and some less obvious things like a wood fence and even a wooden deck. Other measures include:
If evacuating the area and time permits property owners should:
Always follow the instructions of your local authorities and take immediate action as instructed to protect persons and property.
Valuable information can be accessed through the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) which publishes a variety of resources related to wildland and rural fire protection https://www.nfpa.org/codes%20and%20standards and through Fire Smart Canada, which has published an on-line manual entitled “Protecting Your Community from Wildfire” https://www.firesmartcanada.ca/what-is-firesmart/emergency-planning/
About Ecclesiastical Insurance
Founded in 1887 and with offices in Canada since 1972, Ecclesiastical Insurance is a specialist insurance provider. Working closely with the national independent broker network, Ecclesiastical provides customized insurance solutions and services to faith organizations, retirement communities, education facilities, arts & culture institutions, funeral services providers and registered charities and non-profit groups. For more information visit www.ecclesiastical.ca
Contact:
Colin Robertson, Vice President, Operations and Risk Control
(416) 484‑3984
crobertson@eccles-ins.com