What to know as we head into wildfire season

May 27, 2026

With summer approaching and temperatures rising across B.C., wildfires are a concern throughout the province. While there hasn’t been significant activity yet, we’re monitoring conditions closely and ready to support customers and communities. Here’s what to know about your insurance coverage, how to prepare, and how we can help if you’re affected.

Does your insurance cover wildfires?

In B.C., vehicle damage caused by wildfires is covered by optional insurance coverages that are available from ICBC and other insurers. Most B.C. drivers have optional insurance coverage.

If you don’t, or if your policy has expired, we encourage you to talk to an Autoplan broker to make sure you’re protected.

Here are insurance products that will cover your vehicle during a wildfire:

• Comprehensive covers non-collision damage such as loss or damage from fire, earthquake, explosion, theft, vandalism, falling or flying objects, hitting a domestic or wild animal and weather including lightning, windstorm, hail or rising water.

• Specified perils covers loss or damage from fire, earthquake, explosion, theft, and weather including lightning, windstorm, hail or rising water. It doesn’t cover vandalism, windshield damage or hitting an animal.

If your vehicle is in an area under an evacuation alert or order, you can add these coverages if you move your vehicle outside the designated zones until the alert or order has been lifted.

If your vehicle is uninsured and you’re placed on evacuation alert or order, you can buy Basic insurance on a Temporary Operation Permit to move your vehicle to safety. In this situation, we encourage you to contact an Autoplan broker who can assist you by phone and email.

Get your essentials ready

One of the best things you can do right now is to prepare – just in case. Pack your essentials into a grab-and-go kit and create an emergency plan for your household.

If you need to prepare for a possible evacuation, pack important documents including:

• Personal identification such as your B.C. driver’s licence, B.C. identification card, B.C. Services Card, passport and original copies of your birth certificate, marriage certificate and Canadian citizenship documentation.

• Vehicle registration, licence and Autoplan insurance documents.

• Other documents such as your home insurance policy, banking/financial information and documents you may not be able to access remotely or online.

Support when it matters most

When wildfires occur and impact communities, we gather a dedicated team of experienced specialists to process claims as quickly as possible. We also activate an incident response team with representatives from all areas of ICBC. Their role is to assess wildfire impacts, identify risks and make sure support is going where customers and communities need it most.

“We’re committed to a smooth claims process that works fast to help communities recover and rebuild,” said Alden Li, senior director at ICBC for material damage claims. “Wildfire season brings immense stress and uncertainty, and nothing is more important to us than getting support to people who’ve been impacted, swiftly and efficiently.”

Wildfire impacts are growing

Wildfire-related vehicle claims costs have increased significantly in B.C. over the last decade.

ICBC received 510 claims totalling $6.6 million from 2021 to 2025 – more than six times higher than the previous five-year period.*

Lost ID during an evacuation? We can help

If a wildfire forces you to evacuate and you lose your B.C. driver’s licence, BC Services Card or other B.C. identification, we can issue free replacement identification without the need to present additional identification documents (some exceptions may apply).

Visit your nearest ICBC driver licensing office to get replacement identification. You can find up-to-date information on office hours and locations here.

Stay safe and informed

If there is a wildfire near you, the most important thing you can do is follow all evacuation alerts and orders, and instructions from local authorities.

If you’ll be travelling to another area of the province this summer, check DriveBC.ca for the latest road conditions and EmergencyInfoBC.ca for information about areas under evacuation alerts and orders. Avoid driving to areas with active wildfires including those with evacuation orders or alerts. If needed, plan alternate routes if the road you need to use is closed.

*Wildfire claims resulting from large wildfire events. From 2021 to 2025, 510 wildfire-related vehicle claims were reported to ICBC, totalling $6.6 million. From 2016 to 2020, 153 wildlife-related vehicle claims were reported to ICBC totalling $1,034,440.