Fire Classification Guide
Wildfire of Note
Highly visible or posing a potential threat to public safety.
What is a "Fire of Note"?
A Wildfire of Note is a special classification used by the BC Wildfire Service to identify fires that are either highly visible or pose a potential threat to public safety and infrastructure.
Key Characteristics
🔥 Threat Level
These fires often represent an elevated threat to communities, major highways, critical infrastructure, or significant cultural or environmental values.
👁️ Visibility
Fires that are highly visible from populated areas may be classified as Fires of Note due to high public interest, even if they don't immediately threaten structures.
📣 Regular Updates
The BC Wildfire Service provides more frequent and detailed updates for Fires of Note compared to standard incident reports.
Evacuation Orders and Alerts
Fires of Note often trigger Evacuation Alerts or Evacuation Orders from local authorities. Always follow the directions of your local government or First Nation regarding evacuations. View current alerts at EmergencyInfoBC.
Why This Distinction Matters
A "note" classification reserves the right to reclassify without public re-announcement, which means firefighters may treat the fire differently than the label suggests.
Notes are used when cause evidence is being gathered, witnesses interviewed, or physical evidence preserved. If you have information about how a fire started — even secondhand — contact your local wildfire office or submit a tip through the Report Fire page. Notes are removed once the cause is confirmed.