As wildfire seasons grow longer and more destructive, rural communities in British Columbia are turning to a proactive, made-in-B.C. solution: mapping water sources in advance of fire emergencies. Led by Living Lakes Canada, a water science and stewardship non-profit, this initiative is helping communities across the Columbia Basin strengthen their emergency readiness by identifying and documenting critical water sources before wildfires strike.

“We’re helping emergency responders find and access water more quickly,” said Paige Thurston, Program Manager with Living Lakes. “By compiling local knowledge and water monitoring data, this project is working to protect homes, lives, and ecosystems from the impacts of increasingly intense wildfires.”

The approach has already proven effective. During the 2024 Argenta Creek wildfire, maps developed by Living Lakes Canada in collaboration with the Argenta Safety & Preparedness Society were used by BC Wildfire Service to support their response. Fire crews reported that the maps significantly cut down the time needed for field reconnaissance.

“This is a practical tool that could make a difference in response,” said Jeremy Angus, Senior Wildfire Officer with BC Wildfire Service. “We are happy to support Living Lakes on this project by providing our perspective on the demands that come from wildfire suppression.”

The project is rooted in community collaboration. In each area, Living Lakes is working closely with a local partner and designated Community Champion who act as a liaison and garner community participation.

Maps for the Red Mountain Road and Enterprise Creek area were produced in 2025 and were recently published. “This mapping project was instrumental in strengthening our rural community’s disaster preparedness while ensuring response readiness for the next emergency we will face, ” said Nicky Blackshaw of the Red Mountain Road and Enterprise Creek Emergency Preparedness Society, “we were thrilled with the number of residents who participated in the project, and grateful to partner with Living Lakes Canada to undertake this important work.”

Two new projects are being launched in 2026: the Lardeau Valley in the West Kootenay, and Parson and surrounding areas in the East Kootenay. Mapping will take place through summer 2026, with reports and maps due to be published in early 2027. Mapping will also continue in Winlaw in the West Kootenay and in Grasmere and Yaq̓it ʔa·knuqⱡi’it First Nation in the East Kootenay.

Residents are invited to share their knowledge of creeks, standpipes, hydrants, access routes and other important features on both public and private lands (with landowner consent). This on-the-ground information, often missing from existing emergency response systems, is combined with scientific water data to create detailed, interactive maps.

For Chelsey Jones, the Lardeau Valley’s Community Champion and Program Coordinator with Lardeau Valley LINKS, the benefits of this project are clear, “We need to be proactive to put ourselves in the best position to deal with the increasing climate-caused emergencies that we are seeing.”

“We were extremely lucky that we had fast response times and easy access during the big Parson fire two years ago, but we might not be as lucky next time, said Trina Wolfenden, Community Champion for the Parson area. “Anything that we can do to help speed up and streamline firefighting help in an emergency will be invaluable. I am grateful that our area was picked for this project this year, it will help us to be ready in case of another fire event.”

Residents in the project areas are encouraged to contribute by attending the community meetings scheduled in Parson or Meadow Creek, completing a short online questionnaire or contacting Living Lakes Canada directly. Their knowledge of local water sources could save vital time and support more effective emergency response when every minute counts.

To learn more about this project or provide input visit: https://livinglakescanada.ca/wildfire.