News & Articles

Whistler faces real, well-documented wildfire risk – yet a recent report suggests homeowner sprinklers and landscaping are sufficient protection. In this article, I push back on that claim: drawing on fire history, regional research, and FireSmart principles to make the case that no one- or two-pronged solution will hold when a medium or large wildfire hits. Effective resilience demands a whole-of-community response – and Whistler is already 20 years into building one.

The Cheakamus Community Forest partnered with Frontera Forest Solutions to understand how climate change could influence future wildfire behaviour around Whistler. Using long-range climate projections and more than a thousand simulated fire seasons, the team transformed flat threat maps into animated, interactive visualizations that offer clearer insight for forest management, emergency planning, and public engagement.

Wildfire risk mitigation requires significant resources, and navigating the funding landscape can be challenging. This article outlines the main programs available to local governments and Indigenous communities, clarifies how the application process works, and highlights the key steps needed to access support.