Returning home after a wildfire

An Evacuation Order must be rescinded before you return to your property. Follow all instructions about access routes, timing and traffic control. Do not take shortcuts or enter closed or restricted areas.

View current SLRD Evacuation Alerts and Orders.

The information on these pages provides general health, safety and recovery guidance for people returning to wildfire-affected properties in the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District.

Conditions vary by incident. Follow any specific direction from the SLRD, your local government, First Nation, health authority, utility provider, BC Wildfire Service or other responsible agency.

Put together a short-term recovery plan

The content on these pages will help you put together a short-term recovery plan that you can start thinking about even if you are still under an Evacuation Order. 

• Identify immediate safety and health needs
• Gather insurance information and create a process for documentation
• Line up temporary accommodation, if needed
• Confirm professional assessments and assistance for cleanup
• Understand guidance and requirements for waste disposal
• Research what is needed for repairs or rebuilding
• Research and confirm what is available for financial, logistical and emotional support

Returning home after a wildfire can bring relief and uncertainty at the same time. Prepare for limited services, unfamiliar conditions and the possibility that you may need to leave again if you are still under an evacuation alert.

Confirm access and make a plan

• Confirm access. Make sure the evacuation order has been rescinded. Follow all road access, traffic control and re-entry directions.
• Check air quality. People with respiratory conditions or other health concerns may wish to postpone their return until smoke conditions improve.
• Fuel your vehicle. Fuel and other services may be limited.
• Plan for another evacuation. If your area remains under evacuation alert, stay ready to leave again on short notice.
• Contact your insurer. Ask what you should do before entering, cleaning, moving or disposing of belongings.

Bring these supplies

• Sturdy closed-toe footwear and weather-appropriate clothing
• An N95 respirator, safety glasses, durable gloves, long sleeves and long pants
• A flashlight, charged phone, power bank and spare batteries
• A first aid kit, basic tools, cleanup supplies and heavy-duty garbage bags
• At least three days of bottled water and food per person
• Medications, prescriptions and essential medical equipment
• Pet food, water, leash or carrier and medications
• Insurance information, important documents and a notebook or phone for records
• Any SLRD Rapid Damage Assessment information or other site-specific instructions provided to you

Pause before entering: Look at the property from a safe distance. Call 9-1-1 if you see an immediate threat to life or safety. Leave the area if you smell gas or propane, see downed power lines, active fire, unstable structures or other serious hazards.

Follow the SLRD Rapid Damage Assessment instructions and restrictions
If your home was affected directly by wildfire you may have a SLRD Rapid Damage Assessment or instructions attached to you home and/or property. The Rapid Damage Assessment document indicates whether a building has been inspected, has restricted use or is unsafe to enter. Follow every restriction written on the assessment. An assessment is a rapid safety screening, not a full structural inspection.

Learn more about post-disaster building assessments on the BC Housing website

• Walk around structures before entering, but stay well back from damaged buildings, chimneys and trees.
• Look carefully for fallen or damaged electrical lines, damaged propane or fuel tanks, sharp debris, open wells, damaged septic areas, ash pits, hot spots and unstable slopes.
• Give emergency crews and utility workers room to operate. Drive slowly and follow traffic control.
• Keep children and pets away from ash, debris, standing water and damaged areas.
• Photograph or record video of the property before moving, cleaning or disposing of anything.
  Enter with caution
• Do not enter a building that appears structurally unsafe, smells of gas or propane, has visible fire damage or contains heavy ash or debris.
• If it is safe to enter, confirm the main power breaker is off before inspecting further. If the building, wiring, electrical panel or electrical equipment appears to have been affected by fire, heat or water, do not turn the power back on. Have the electrical system inspected by a licensed electrical contractor first.
• Wear appropriate protective clothing. Use an N95 respirator and eye protection where ash or debris is present.
• Do not dry sweep, use a leaf blower or use a vacuum without a HEPA filter. These methods can spread ash into the air.
• Check the roof from ground level for visible damage. Do not climb onto a fire-damaged roof under any circumstances. If you can safely access the attic from inside the building, check for signs of lingering heat, smoke or embers.
• Watch for tripping or falling hazards including wires, debris, uncovered wells and septic tanks.

• Burned roots, weakened trunks and falling branches
• Ash pits where trees or stumps burned below ground
• Asbestos, lead, treated wood, chemicals or other contaminants in structural debris
• Carbon monoxide from operating pumps, generators or pressure washers in confined or poorly ventilated areas.
• Damaged underground electrical, water, fuel or septic infrastructure
• Mould, contaminated dust, ash soot, fibreglass fibres, and other inhalation hazards
• Unstable slopes, rockfall, erosion, flooding and landslides after vegetation has burned
• Pressurized cylinders, household and vehicle batteries, solvents, paints and garden chemicals damaged by heat 
• Renewed fire activity or hot spots that flare without warning

Post-wildfire flooding and landslides: Wildfire can increase runoff, erosion, rockfall, flooding and landslide risk. Learn the warning signs and follow local weather, streamflow and evacuation information.

Danger trees: Any tree weakened by fire may fall without warning, especially in wind. Do not stand beneath burned trees or attempt to test roots or trunks yourself. Use a qualified arborist or danger tree assessor to assess the property.