How prepared is Metro Vancouver for urban wildfires?

What happened: The fires ravaging L.A. are raising questions about whether Metro Vancouver is adequately prepared for potential urban wildfires, especially on the North Shore where city urban meets forest.

Vancouver and L.A. both have similar topographies and similar weather patterns, which could cause issues, according to an expert interviewed by CityNews. 

• The Pacific Palisades has very similar topography to West and North Vancouver, with steep hillsides and flammable trees that are increasingly drying out because of the warming planet.

Solutions: The region is taking proactive action, including training firefighters on wildland firefighting, thinning up fuel areas and FireSmart assessments of homes in the area, according to Global. 

• Vancouver Fire Rescue says they’re prepared, including advanced fire protection systems and extra high-pressure hydrants (the blue ones you see in Vancouver), which can withstand an earthquake up to an 8 on the Richter scale. 

North Shore firefighters participated in Operation Jubilee last year, a simulated wildland fire scenario in preparation for ones that could occur where forests and communities meet, according to a report from Global last April. 

What it means: The chances of a fire in the North Shore are only getting worse as the climate continues to warm. The situation in L.A. should give everyone pause to consider what might happen in the region.

• Helping out: BC and Alberta will be sending around 60 firefighters as soon as today to help LA fight the fires, according to the Vancouver Sun.