Who's behind it
This resource is built and maintained by Flash Wildfire Services, a Canadian wildfire-equipment retailer based in Sherwood Park, Alberta, shipping across Canada. We sell the pumps, sprinklers, hose, tanks, and tools homeowners and crews use to defend property from wildfire. We built this learning centre because informed customers make better decisions — and because the gap between good wildfire information and the average homeowner is wider than it should be.
We supply equipment. For assessments, evacuation decisions, and on-the-ground direction, your local fire service and provincial wildfire agency are the authorities — always.
Our standard
Everything here is held to one rule: state only what's supported by a named, checkable source. That means recognised authorities (FireSmart, Public Safety Canada, provincial agencies), peer-reviewed and government research (FPInnovations, U.S. Forest Service), and our own product documentation — each cited where it's used. Where the evidence is strong, we say so. Where it has limits, we say that too — see The Proof for the clearest example.
Sources & citations
Authorities & preparedness guidance
- FireSmart Canada — the Home Ignition Zone, the ~90% ember-ignition figure, ember travel distance, and priority-zone guidance. FireSmart® is a program of the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre (CIFFC).
- FireSmart Alberta — provincial Home Ignition Zone and vegetation-management detail.
- Public Safety Canada — Get Prepared — the 72-hour preparedness standard, emergency kits, and minimum water guidance (2 L per person per day).
- Alberta Emergency Management Agency and the City of Calgary — provincial and municipal emergency-kit and water recommendations (commonly 4 L per person per day including hygiene).
- FireSmoke Canada — wildfire smoke forecasting.
Research — home ignition & defensible space
- J. Cohen, U.S. Forest Service — development of the Home Ignition Zone; experimental and modelling research on structure ignition from radiant heat and embers; selected work in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2015).
- Cohen & Butler — "Modeling Potential Structure Ignitions from Flame Radiation Exposure" (the ~40 m radiant-ignition finding).
- FPInnovations — "Evaluating the effectiveness of FireSmart priority zones for structure protection."
Research — sprinkler & structure protection
- FPInnovations / FRIAA — "Sprinkler use in North America: a state-of-practice review."
- FPInnovations — "Use of sprinklers and aqueous gel for structure protection from wildfire" (NWT experimental crown fires; Walkinshaw & Ault, 2008 & 2009).
- FPInnovations — "BC Wildfire Service Sprinkler Research, Fort Providence Wildfire Experimental Site 2024."
- FPInnovations — "Case study: Kenow Fire, Alberta, 2017, structure protection in Waterton Lakes National Park."
- FPInnovations — "Design and evaluation of a new wildfire sprinkler" (local relative-humidity dome).
Flash Wildfire Services references
- Homeowner's Corner — sprinkler mechanisms, system selection, and product range.
- Flash Wildfire Services blog — wildfire temperatures, pressure & flow, hose types, fireline tools, and equipment selection (linked throughout the site).
Trademarks & disclaimer
FireSmart® is a registered trademark of the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre. This site references and teaches FireSmart principles; it is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or a substitute for the FireSmart program or any fire authority. The content here is educational. No preparedness measure guarantees a structure will survive a wildfire. Always follow the instructions of your local fire authority and any evacuation orders.