Wildfire Structure Protection Usage

SUMMARY 

Use of off-grid rainwater cisterns to protect your home, business, warehouse, trailer park, or even community centre with a wildfire suppression system using a sprinkler system - rooftop and ground - to prevent ember ignition.

CHALLENGES

• Wildfires Increase Insurance Costs

Insurance companies need to consider risk mitigation and premium adjustments in order to continue coverage.

• Community Proximity to Wildlands

Wildland Urban Interface (WUIs) and Canadian urban development continues to back onto forestry, creating new challenges every year as our population and housing demands grow.

• "Grandfathered In" Buildings

While at greater risk, it's unrealistic to force existing home and business owners to fully fireproof existing structure at their own loss. Certain rebate programs can help, if and when available.

• Defensible Space Maintenance

Firesmart Canada has defensible zones defined to serve as a bare-minimum,  but not all property owners are following the guidelines.

• Indigenous Peoples & Communities

80% of all Canadian Indigenous people are located in Fire Prone regions that burn frequently (stat: United Nations Office) but do not have the infrastructure to fight fires, and the last major infrastructure investment to First Nations was in the 1990s. 

NEXT STEPS AND OPPORTUNITIES

• Incorporate Rainwater Cisterns into FireSmart Guidelines

Encourage municipalities and Provinces to include OFF-GRID cistern water storage systems as part of FireSmart recommendations, especially for properties in WUI zones.

• Rainwater Infrastructure Incentives for Homeowners

Offer rebates or tax credits for installing rainwater cisterns, highlighting their dual benefit for fire suppression and sustainable water management. As listed in our 2025 Rebates page, there are not a lot of wildfire communitites listed that should be providing large volume water storage rebates.

• Launch Pilot Projects in High-Risk Areas

Launch demonstration projects in fire-prone communities (including Indigenous lands) that showcase how cisterns can supply water for defensive space irrigation and emergency fire suppression.

• Emergency Water Access Points

Equip communities with large-scale cisterns at key locations (e.g., schools, community halls) to act as accessible emergency water sources during wildfire events.

OUR PROPOSED SOLUTIONS

1. Integrate Fire-Readiness into Insurance and Risk Management

Work with insurers to document cistern installations and other wildfire protections to potentially lower premiums and demonstrate proactive risk mitigation.  Insurance companies are getting bold in certain scenarios, and have already invested into property protection in Alberta and BC.

2. Business Owners: wildfire planning using rainwater cisterns (OFF GRID)

Install cisterns to create an independent water source for rooftop sprinkler systems, ground-level perimeter irrigation, and staff-accessible fire defense tools.

3. Community Cistern Grant Program

Create a funding model for rural, Indigenous, and fire-prone communities to install large-capacity cisterns, improving water security and fire response.

4. Cistern-Based Fire Protection Zones

Designate neighborhoods or developments as “Cistern-Supported Zones,” where water storage is built into the infrastructure for wildfire suppression and defensible space irrigation.

5. Municipal-Utility Partnerships

Work with local governments and water utilities to integrate rainwater systems into building codes and emergency response strategies, using cisterns as decentralized, off-grid water sources.

6. Eco-conscious Business Ownership Commitments

Position cistern-supported fire readiness as part of your business’s sustainability and safety commitments.