Home / Environment / Utilities Brace for Wildfires, Leaving Canadians Vulnerable to Deadly Heat
Utilities Brace for Wildfires, Leaving Canadians Vulnerable to Deadly Heat
21 Aug
Summary
- Utilities in B.C. and Alberta adopt public safety power shutoff policies to prevent wildfires
- Residents fear for their lives as they lose access to cooling during extreme heat events
- Deadly 2021 heat dome in B.C. highlighted vulnerability of those without backup power
As of August 2025, utilities in British Columbia and Alberta have adopted public safety power shutoff policies to prevent wildfires during extremely hot, dry, and windy conditions. However, this move has left many residents, especially those who cannot afford generators, fearing for their lives.
The announcement of these policies has triggered memories of the deadly heat dome that struck British Columbia in 2021, killing over 600 people who were unable to cool their homes. Len Ens, a resident of Princeton, B.C., says the only way he and his parrot survived the heat dome was by running a portable air conditioning unit in the bedroom.
Utilities like FortisBC claim they will only use the power shutoff as a last resort, but they cannot predict the duration of the outages. This means that residents may be left without access to fans, air conditioning, or even well water pumps during the hottest periods of the summer. Experts recommend that people be prepared to be self-sufficient for at least 72 hours, but not everyone can afford the necessary backup equipment.
While the utilities are consulting with local authorities and advising vulnerable customers to register for advance notice, the impact of these power shutoffs on communities remains a major concern. As wildfires continue to grow more severe in Canada, the delicate balance between fire prevention and protecting residents from extreme heat will be an ongoing challenge.
