By Goat Staff with files from BC Government
The BC Wildfire Service has launched a mobile app to provide real-time wildfire information and an interactive map containing various fire-related data.
The app adds to the BC Wildfire Service’s website and social media channels.
Key features of the mobile app include:
1. Wildfire map with the same features as the one available through the B.C. Wildfire Dashboard: www.bcwildfire.ca;
* current fire danger rating
* active fires
* fires that have been declared “out”
* open burning prohibitions (including campfire bans)
* evacuation alerts and evacuation orders
* area restrictions
* current wildfire statistics
* perimeters of wildfires for the current season (April 1 through March 31 of the following year)
* boundaries of B.C.’s six regional fire centres
* BC Parks closures and recreation site closures
* wildfire search tool (search by active fire name, fire number or location)
* Drive BC events (e.g., advisories and closures)
The app also offers a “Near Me” function. When users select the “Near Me” option, the app will only display information within a 50-kilometre radius of their current location, allowing them to more easily focus on wildfire activity within that area.
2. Latest news and advisories
The BC Wildfire Service mobile app allows users to view the latest informational tweets directly from the BC Wildfire Service’s Twitter feed. A personal Twitter account is not required to view this feed. The latest advisories (related to open burning bans and prohibitions, area restrictions, evacuation alerts and evacuation orders) are also available on the app.
3. Statistics
Wildfire statistics for the current wildfire season (April 1 through March 31 of the following year):
* a rolling total of all active wildfires
* a rolling total of all wildfires (active and extinguished)
* the number of wildfires detected in the last two days
* the number of wildfires detected in the last seven days
All of these statistics can be filtered by fire centre, suspected cause, stage of control, current year fires or active fires.
4. Fire reporting tool
The BC Wildfire Service relies on the public to report wildfires and irresponsible behaviour that could start a wildfire. The app features a “Report a Fire” function that will automatically generate map co-ordinates of your current location. Provincial Wildfire Reporting Centre staff will ask for these co-ordinates when the user reports a wildfire. This feature also indicates what sort of questions a person may be asked when reporting a wildfire.
The BC Wildfire Service mobile app is available for Apple (iOS) and Android devices and is free to download in the App Store and Google Play.
