File photo/BC Wildfire Service

By Liam Verster

case study

Kamloops, Kelowna among the top Canadian cities at risk of wildfires: study

Jun 4, 2024 | 2:00 PM

A company that compares insurance policies from different providers has ranked two local cities as being among the most at risk of wildfires this summer.

MyChoice released its list of Top 20 Canadian Cities at Highest Risk During 2024 Wildfire Season, with Kamloops rated the most at risk community of them all.

“Kamloops, B.C., tops the list with a risk score of 9.4/10, indicating extreme wildfire risk due to its high Forecast Severity Rating and well-above-average Forecast Severity Anomaly,” the company said on its website.

Kelowna was tied for the third most at-risk city with a score of 8.6 out of 10. The other communities that earned the same rating were Regina and Medicine Hat.

Fire risk study (Image credit: My Choice)

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Saskatoon was ranked second highest at risk with a rate of 8.8 out of 10.

MyChoice determined the rankings by undertaking a case study using the Forecast Severity Rating (FSR) and the Forecast Severity Anomaly (FSA) metrics obtained through the Canadian Wildland Fire Information System.

On a scale of 1 (lowest) to 5 (highest), the data collected by MyChoice showed the FSA for Kamloops would be at Level 5 from May through September, while the FSR would be at Level 5 for all months except May and July.

The ratings for Kelowna had the FSA at Level 4 for May and June and then Level 5 for the following three months. The city’s FSR was ranked at Level 4 for May, June and August, Level 3 for July, and Level 5 for September.

Vernon and other area communities were not included in the list of at-risk communities.

The other B.C. communities included in the ranking were Prince George (7.4) and Vancouver (6.6)