During last year’s wildfire season, East Coast cities from New York to Montreal were blanketed in smoke from hundreds of Canadian wildfires. The result was urgent air quality warnings, canceled company events, and disrupted corporate travel. This year, wildfires have already burned more than 20 times as much land as last year in California, disrupting supply chains and local economies. In Canada, wildfires recently devastated the popular tourist town of Jasper, Alberta.
According to experts, the wildfire season is increasing in length, severity, and duration – and organizations need to advance efforts to keep their traveling employees safe.
With this in mind, security experts at World Travel Protection in collaboration with Riskline have provided key insights on safety and risk for business travelers this wildfire season.
Which Destinations Are Most At Risk?
Australia, Canada, and the U.S. topped the list of countries with the most wildfire alerts in 2023, according to Riskline (see chart below). The numbers include alerts for individual wildfires, as well as alerts for the disruptions triggered by the wildfires, such as evacuations, power outages, state of emergency declarations, and other related warnings. The alerts continue from the initial incident of fire through notifications of “closed” alerts.
| COUNTRY | # OF ALERTS IN 2023 |
|---|---|
| Australia | 116 |
| Canada | 63 |
| United States | 51 |
| Spain | 23 |
| Indonesia | 20 |
| Greece | 19 |
| Chile | 16 |
| Italy | 12 |
| Kazakhstan | 6 |
| South Korea | 6 |
How Can Companies, Business Travelers Protect Themselves?
“Climate change has drastically altered the landscape, making conditions increasingly difficult and conducive to more frequent and intense wildfires,” commented Frank Harrison, Regional Security Director Americas for World Travel Protection. “These fires are no longer confined to traditionally high-risk areas. Locations that regional fire management organizations once considered safe are now experiencing frequent and more intense fires. The consequences are far-reaching, from disrupting travel plans and impacting business operations to posing significant health risks due to smoke exposure and air quality issues. Organizations need to understand the growing risks for travelers.”
Harrison offers companies the following five tips to protect employees while traveling during wildfire season:
- Monitor and prepare. Stay on top of weather advisories, and be aware of rapidly changing travel restrictions in areas where wildfires may be spreading. Put comprehensive alert systems in place to keep traveling employees informed and up to date.
- Create a traveler emergency plan. Ensure the plan includes information on evacuation procedures, contact protocols, data backup requirements, and health advice on issues like air quality.
- Ensure travelers are informed and up-to-date on the plan and protocols. Communicate to travelers in advance of their departure to advise them of protocols and ensure their understanding.
- Invest in travel support technologies. Provide and mandate employees to download travel risk management platforms and apps that provide real-time updates and crisis alerts on potential hazards and safety concerns. Ensure the technology includes two-way communication so that they can request help immediately. By actively sharing relevant information, companies empower travelers to make informed decisions, shifting the focus towards preparedness while fulfilling their duty of care responsibilities
- Develop a crisis communications strategy. Develop a crisis communications strategy to manage reputational and business continuity exposures in the event that employees – especially high-profile executives – are caught in a wildfire.
For an in-depth analysis of wildfire trends, locations and risks, check out Riskline’s Wildfires Informer 2024.
