WILDFIRE EQUIPMENT · HOMEOWNER GUIDE
Help protect your home from wildfire.
Start with the house and its surroundings. Then plan how water, sprinklers and dependable equipment can add another layer of protection.
Practical steps, the evidence behind them, and tools to help you prepare before fire season.
1. Start where embers can find fuel.
A wildfire does not have to reach your walls to threaten your home. Wind-blown embers can ignite material on or near a building. Nearby burning objects can then expose it to flames and radiant heat.
At the house: 0–1.5 m
Prioritize a non-combustible perimeter, including around attached decks. Remove dry vegetation and combustible clutter; use gravel, paving or other non-combustible surfaces.
Nearby: 1.5–10 m
Reduce pathways that can carry fire toward the house. Review landscaping, stored materials, firewood and combustible outbuildings.
Farther out: 10–30 m
Manage accumulated fuels and tree spacing to reduce fire intensity. Work with neighbours where protection zones overlap, and get advice for steep or complex sites.
2. Make the building harder to ignite.
Walk around your home and check the places where leaves, needles and embers collect. Review roof condition, gutters, vents, siding, windows, decks and fences. Cleaning and maintenance are a useful starting point; renovation decisions deserve a closer look at the complete assembly and local requirements.
Use FireSmart’s individual building-component resources to plan improvements rather than assuming that a metal roof or a sprinkler alone protects every vulnerable part of a house.
3. Where rooftop sprinklers can help.
Exterior sprinklers apply water to roofs and other exposed areas. The aim is to wet vulnerable surfaces and nearby fuels before they ignite. A complete structure-protection setup combines that water delivery with a suitable supply, pump, hoses, fittings and planned coverage.
BC Wildfire Service uses strategically placed sprinklers as one of its structure-protection tactics, alongside FireSmart work and professional assessment. This operational use supports a role for sprinklers; it does not establish a guaranteed outcome for a homeowner installation.
Read how BC Wildfire Service approaches structure protection →
Sprinkler success stories and field reports
These previously featured examples offer useful real-world context. They are field observations and reported experiences, not controlled tests or guarantees for another property.
- Ham Lake Fire sprinkler report (PDF, 2008) — Lessons from the 2007 fire, including successful protection, maintenance failures and the study’s limitations.
- Prince Albert wildfire: homeowner and fire department account (2021) — paNOW’s reporting on sprinkler use during a wildfire evacuation.
4. Match the system to your water supply.
Begin with the water you can reliably deliver, not the number of sprinklers you would like to install. A household tap, well, tank or pond presents different constraints. Check sustained output, usable storage, power needs and local water-use rules.
Read the pump curve—not just the maximum numbers.
A pump’s maximum flow and maximum pressure are not available together. Use its performance chart to find the flow at the pressure your setup requires. Allow for hose friction, fittings and the climb from the water source to the sprinklers. Confirm the result with the complete system running.
Water Winger’s stated operating range is 5–9 US GPM per sprinkler at 50 PSI, depending on configuration. Two therefore require about 10–18 US GPM at the sprinklers before accounting for other outlets. Check the specifications for the exact equipment you select.
Choose the right pump and hose size.
Your pump and hose work together. Long or narrow hoses and uphill runs reduce the pressure reaching your sprinklers. Choose both to deliver the flow and pressure your sprinklers need.
- Pump → supplies water under pressureCheck how much water it delivers at the pressure you need. Maximum flow and maximum pressure are not available at the same time.
- Hose and fittings → affect what reaches the endLonger runs and smaller hose create more pressure loss at the same flow. A larger hose can reduce that loss.
- Uphill rise → needs extra pressureInclude the climb from your water source to the sprinklers, including roof height.
- Sprinklers → need enough flow and pressure togetherTest the complete system with all intended sprinklers running. Pressure at a closed tap does not tell you what is available while watering.
Check water duration as well as pressure.
For example, 1,000 US gallons of usable stored water divided by a total demand of 20 US GPM gives 50 minutes of theoretical operation, without replenishment. Real usable duration needs allowances for reserve, intake limitations and changing conditions. Keep units consistent: US gallons and Imperial gallons differ.
Planning software provides estimates, not a guarantee of coverage or a substitute for testing. For detailed hose, elevation and pump reference material, open the existing technical guide.
5. Prepare before smoke is in the forecast.
- Walk the property. Identify ember traps and arrange a local FireSmart assessment where available.
- Map each building. Note roof covering, height, access, hose routes and the water source.
- Plan coverage. Check where water actually lands, including sheltered areas. Do not rely on an advertised spray radius alone.
- Practise safely. Follow equipment instructions and test the full setup well before an emergency. Avoid improvised roof access.
- Check reliability. Inspect hoses, connections, strainers and pump maintenance needs. Follow manufacturer instructions for fuel and exhaust safety.
- Make an evacuation plan. Follow local alerts and directions. Never delay leaving to install, adjust or refuel equipment.
Common questions
Should I buy sprinklers before clearing around the house?
Start with the building and its surroundings. Water equipment complements those improvements; it does not replace them.
Can my well run several sprinklers?
Possibly, but static pressure is not enough to answer that. Establish sustained flow at operating pressure, well recovery and power reliability, then test the intended outlets together.
Will a sprinkler protect every part of my property?
No. Buildings, wind, roof geometry and available pressure affect where water reaches. Each building and exposure needs its own assessment.
What should I send when asking for help?
Your location, building sizes, roof details, water source, pump model if known, and approximate hose distance and elevation. Photos are useful. Contact our team with what you already know.
Have questions about your property?
Tell us what you’re protecting and what you know about your water supply. We’ll help you understand your options.
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