B.C. ministers urge residents to have go-bags, insurance before floods and wildfires

It may only be mid-April, but the province is encouraging residents to prepare go-bags and insurance ahead of the flood and wilfire seasons.

The British Columbia government says residents should start preparing for wildfire and flood season with go-bags and insurance, as emergency response officials watch the snowpack and drought levels across the province.

The coming spring runoff and the prospect of extreme heat or rain events could lead to flooding in some regions, though officials say the snowpack is lower than average and there is “potential for prolonged drought this year.”

The BC Wildfire Service says the province could see an “active spring wildfire season” due to drought conditions, and warns of higher fire risk unless there’s “significant and sustained” rainfall in the near future.

Forests Minister Ravi Parmar says the severity of the upcoming wildfire season is unknown, and B.C. residents should “do their part to help protect their homes and communities.”

Parmar says the wildfires in California earlier this year were a “stark reminder” of their destructive powers, and this year’s fire season in B.C. will likely be affected by ongoing drought conditions.

Emergency Management Minister Kelly Greene says the impacts of climate change have been “devastating,” pointing to the 2023 wildfire season — the most destructive on record — and the 2021 atmospheric river and heat dome events.

“When wildfires are burning nearby, it can become too late to obtain insurance, and that’s why now is the time to get insured,” Greene said Wednesday.

“We are approaching the time of year when seasonal hazards increase and it’s important that we all stay alert, stay informed and stay prepared. While we’re always hoping for the best, we prepare for the worst.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 16, 2025.