City of Langford

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Emergency Preparedness

The gorgeous wilds that surround Langford can also generate potential threats to residents and their property. This information will help you prepare for such an event, whether it is an earthquake, fire, or flood.

Disaster Response Routes

Disaster Response Routes (DRR) are roads and highways that are designated to be used only by emergency services in the event of a declaration of a local or provincial state of emergency.

Disaster Response Routes in Langford run along the Trans-Canada Highway and Veterans' Memorial Parkway. For more information, view the DRR Map for the Capital Region [PDF - 584 KB].

Wildfires and Interface Fires

Wildfires are a significant threat. The City of Langford has many interface fire zones in which commercial and residential buildings could be threatened in the event of a wildfire.

Langford Fire Rescue and the City of Langford have completed a comprehensive Interface Fire Hazard Plan [PDF - 1.7 MB] for planning community development and firefighting procedures in areas of our district that have the potential for wildfires (grass and bush) to progress towards homes.

With the potential for bush fires to progress rapidly we have a dedicated vehicle for rapid response in the bush (Brush 1) and a tanker (Tender 1) to support it.

View the Interface Fire Hazard Areas [PDF - 144 KB] map for neighbourhoods that may be at risk.

Consult our Public Notices for the latest news on campfire bans and other burning restrictions in the City of Langford.

Information on protecting your home in the event of an interface fire is available from Office of the Fire Commissioner and the Wildfire Management Branch.

Flooding

Flooding is a potential danger in Langford. A heavy spring thaw or prolonged period of rainfall can cause flooding in some areas of the city.

Sandbags can be acquired through Langford Fire Rescue and other locations set up by our Engineering Department, which can be contacted for more details. For information on how to construct a sandbag dyke, visit the BC Ministry of Environment Water Stewardship.

For areas that may be at risk for flooding, consult City of Langford's study map of the 200-year Flood Plain [PDF - 176 KB]. This map shows the most extreme flooding that the City of Langford has calculated would occur in a once-in-a-200-year event.

Earthquakes

Small earthquakes are very common along the West Coast of Canada. Most of these go unnoticed, but Vancouver Island does have the potential to be hit by a large, record-setting earthquake.

If such a disaster occurs, many services will be unavailable or overwhelmed to respond to every call for help. The best chance of survival is to be prepared to take care of yourself, and be able to aid your family, friends, and neighbours.

Consult the Provincial Emergency Programs' Earthquake Resources for preparations and steps you can take to ensure your safety in the event of a major earthquake.

Langford Emergency Social Services is part of a provincial emergency response program consisting of services required to preserve the well-being of people affected by a disaster. This team of community volunteers receives extensive, specialized training to provide subsistence support to their neighbours in the direst of situations.

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