Consumer alert: B.C. homeowners, buyers reminded to take steps to protect properties against wildfires

• Consumer Alert

30 July 2026

B.C.’s wildfires ramping up again is a timely reminder for homeowners and prospective buyers to make sure their properties are adequately insured and as resilient as possible.

Multi-year droughts and rising temperatures means many British Columbians are at risk of dealing with the devastation and disruption wildfires cause to homes, businesses and communities.

As such, BCFSA is encouraging homeowners, buyers and sellers to take measures to help protect their properties and learn more about home-buying and -selling transactions during wildfire season.

Insuring and protecting your property

Review your property insurance policies:

• Are you covered for wildfires or other extreme weather events?
• Do you know what it would cost to rebuild your home or replace your belongings after a loss?
• Do you have the right coverage to meet your needs? (It’s important to remember that not all losses are covered under a standard policy)
• What are your deductibles, limits, and any gaps in coverage?

Contact an insurance professional. BCFSA has a list of insurance companies authorized to conduct business in B.C.

Improve your property’s wildfire resilience:

• Install, or take, fire protection measures to improve the resiliency of your property.
• FiresmartBC has a guide to reduce the impacts of a fire or wildfire on your property and a self-assessment tool to assess the dangers.

Navigating real estate transactions during wildfire season

An active wildfire can make it difficult to complete a contract of purchase and sale (CPS), which can put buyers at risk of losing their deposit and sellers at risk of losing their sale.

Tips for buyers:

• Stay informed on wildfire zones: Track wildfire zones by using provincial resources like B.C. Wildfire Service’s Wildfire Map. Staying informed can help you determine whether to pursue a property, if you should add a clause to your offer, and next steps in case a seller is under an evacuation order.
• Obtain suitable home insurance: Mortgage lenders often require a fire insurance policy to approve financing for homes in wildfire-prone areas, so it’s common for a CPS to have subject-removal requirements that include the buyer having an insurance policy in place.
• Obtain your quote early: Talk to your insurance broker to secure a fire insurance quote early, and to ask detailed questions. For example, ask whether the insurance company could bind the policy in advance, and if they could revoke a bound policy.
• Add a protective clause to your contract: Buyers with accepted offers who have removed financing subjects can face situations where insurance companies have withdrawn their approval to insure the property due to an increased risk of wildfire damage. This could cause a ripple effect, leading to lenders withdrawing their approval for financing.

To help mitigate the risk of purchasing property near an active wildfire, BCFSA has an optional wildfire clause that a buyer can add to their CPS. The clause allows for one extension of the completion, adjustment, and possession dates in the CPS, up to a maximum of 30 days, if a wildfire prevents the buyer from obtaining fire insurance for the property (and by extension, mortgage financing).

Talk to your real estate professional and lawyer about the risks associated with using or omitting CPS clauses. If a seller is unwilling to agree to a clause in a CPS, you will have to consider whether to proceed with an offer and face potential conflict and negotiations should a wildfire affect the property and your ability to complete the purchase.

Find out more about the wildfire clause and the fire/property clause on BCFSA’s Clauses page.

Tips for sellers:

If you are selling your home in a fire-prone area, it’s important to maintain your existing insurance coverage until after completion is confirmed in case the transaction falls through.

Seek legal advice if:

• You’re uncertain or have questions about any clauses or terms the buyers have added to the contract.
• Your property has been directly damaged by a wildfire.
• You’re planning to purchase another property after the sale of the current property and have concerns about how an extension due to a wildfire clause could impact your transaction and/or financing. In this situation, you may also want to talk to your lender about financing options.