North Shore · Wildfire guide
Fire-resistant roofing, North Vancouver
Wildfire is now part of life in BC, on the coast as well as in the Interior. This guide covers what a roof fire rating means, how the common roofing materials compare, and the FireSmart steps that matter most, from the people who replace BC roofs every week.
Fire rating
Class A Fire Rated Available, as a complete assembly
Two layers of GAF VersaShield® over 12 mm plywood, per ASTM E108.
The metal
Aluminum does not ignite
Embers that land on the roof have nothing to burn.
Embers
Carried up to 2 km ahead of a fire
FireSmart BC. The roof is the biggest target on the house.
Why it matters in British Columbia
BC's wildfire seasons have grown since the 2003 Okanagan Mountain Park fire. Four of the last ten seasons each burned more than a million hectares, and fire has reached communities that never planned for it: Lytton in 2021, West Kelowna in 2023, Summerland and Peachland in 2026.
| Year | Wildfires | Area burned | What happened |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | — | 25,912 ha (one fire) | Okanagan Mountain Park fire near Kelowna: 239 homes destroyed, 27,000 residents evacuated. |
| 2017 | — | 1,216,053 ha | A record area for BC at the time. |
| 2018 | 2,115 | 1,351,314 ha | Broke the 2017 record a year later. |
| 2021 | 1,500+ | about 860,000 ha | The Lytton Creek fire destroyed about 90% of the Village of Lytton in a day; two people died. |
| 2023 | 2,245 | 2,840,545 ha | BC's most destructive season on record, more than double any before it. |
| 2024 | 1,680+ | about 1,080,000 ha | |
| 2025 | 1,370 | 886,300 ha | Fewer starts than average, but area burned well above the 10-year average. |
| 2026 | about 1,380 | about 475,000 ha | To Sept 10. More than 500 structures destroyed or damaged; the Bald Range fire near Summerland forced 20,000+ people to evacuate in August. |
Sources: BC Wildfire Service season summaries (2023–2025); summaries of BC Wildfire Service data for 2003, 2017, 2018 and 2021; Canadian Press for 2026 to September 10. Full list at the end of this page.
How a house catches fire in a wildfire
Many houses lost to wildfire are never touched by a wall of flame. They catch from embers: burning bark, needles and debris carried by the wind, which FireSmart BC says can land up to 2 km ahead of the fire.
Embers settle where debris collects: in gutters and roof valleys, against vents, in gaps at the eaves and on decks. A roof covering that burns, or a roof full of dry needles, gives them fuel. That is why the roof, and everything around its edges, is the first thing to get right.
What Class A, B and C actually mean
Roof fire ratings come from ASTM E108 (also published as UL 790) and its Canadian counterpart, CAN/ULC-S107. The tests expose a roof sample to fire from outside the building: a flame spreading across the surface, burning wood brands dropped on it, and repeated bursts of flame. The rating belongs to the assembly that was tested, meaning the covering, the underlayment and the deck together. Change one layer and the rating may not hold.
Class A
Severe fire exposure
- Maximum flame spread
- 1.8 m (6 ft)
- Burning brand test
- One 30 cm (12 in) brand, about 2,000 g
- Intermittent flame
- 15 cycles
The rating FireSmart recommends for homes near forest or grassland.
Class B
Moderate fire exposure
- Maximum flame spread
- 2.4 m (8 ft)
- Burning brand test
- Two 15 cm (6 in) brands, about 500 g each
- Intermittent flame
- 8 cycles
Better than C, not the choice for a wildland-urban interface lot.
Class C
Light fire exposure
- Maximum flame spread
- 4.0 m (13 ft)
- Burning brand test
- Twenty 4 cm (1.5 in) brands, about 9 g each
- Intermittent flame
- 3 cycles
Not recommended where wildfire or nearby structure fires are a risk.
BC roofing materials compared for fire
Typical classifications as tested. Any one product can differ, so ask for the product's fire listing and the assembly it was tested on.
| Material | Typical fire classification | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Untreated cedar shakes and shingles | Commonly unrated | FireSmart BC calls untreated shakes a dangerous mix of fuel and gaps where embers lodge. |
| Fire-retardant-treated cedar | Class B or C; some Class A as a tested assembly | The treatment can weather out over the years. Check the product's listing and age. |
| Asphalt shingles (fibreglass) | Commonly Class A | Fibreglass-mat shingles are usually Class A. The roof still has to be kept clear of needles and debris, which can ignite on top of it. |
| Clay and concrete tile | Commonly Class A | Non-combustible, but heavy, and the gaps under the tile need ember-resistant closures at the eaves and ridge. |
| Natural slate | Commonly Class A | Non-combustible and heavy; the roof structure has to be built for the weight. |
| Synthetic and rubber composite | Varies by product | Some products reach Class A only with a specific underlayment. Read the listing, not the brochure. |
| Interlock® aluminum | Class A Fire Rated Available as a complete assembly | Two layers of GAF VersaShield® over 12 mm (15/32-inch) plywood, per ASTM E108. Aluminum itself does not ignite. |
The Interlock® roof, built as a Class A assembly
Interlock® roofs are heavy-gauge aluminum, made in Canada by Interlock Roofing Ltd. in Delta and installed by us across BC. Class A Fire Rated Available as a complete assembly: two layers of GAF VersaShield® fire-resistant underlayment over 12 mm (15/32-inch) plywood, per ASTM E108.
The panels weigh roughly 2 to 3.5 kg per square metre depending on profile, a fraction of tile or slate. Every profile (Slate, Cedar Shingle, Shake, Mediterranean Tile and Standing Seam) needs a minimum 3/12 roof slope.
If your home is in a wildland-urban interface area, tell us at the estimate. We price the Class A assembly and walk the whole roof edge with you: gutters, vents, eaves and anywhere embers could collect.
Product engineering and test reports are the manufacturer's to explain: interlockroofing.com ↗
Beyond the roof: FireSmart your property
FireSmart BC divides the land around a house into three zones. The closer to the house, the more it matters.
Immediate zone · 0 to 1.5 m
The house itself and a non-combustible strip around it. FireSmart BC calls it the most critical zone, because this is where wind-blown embers reach the roof, gutters, vents, decks and anything stored against the walls.
Intermediate zone · 1.5 to 10 m
Keep plants low, spaced and well watered, and move firewood, sheds and fuel away from the house.
Extended zone · 10 to 30 m
Thin and limb trees and clear dead material so a fire coming through the yard drops to the ground. FireSmart BC notes radiant heat is unlikely to ignite a house from 30 m and beyond.
Roof and roof-edge checklist
- Choose a Class A roof assembly. Ask your roofer what the assembly is, not just the panel.
- Keep gutters clear of needles and leaves, and choose non-combustible gutters and gutter guards.
- Screen attic, soffit and roof vents with 3 mm non-combustible wire mesh.
- Close the gaps at the eaves, ridge and roof edges where embers collect.
- Don't store anything combustible on the roof, deck or against the walls in fire season.
FireSmart BC offers free home assessments in many communities. Your local fire department or regional district can tell you what's available where you live.
From an Okanagan homeowner
“…we also loved knowing we don’t have annual costs/work in the future for things such as moss removal. The roof great for wind, hail and fire rating as well with is a bonus in the Okanagan.”
Fire-resistant roofing: questions, answered
What is the most fire-resistant roofing material?
Non-combustible coverings such as metal, clay or concrete tile and natural slate, installed as a Class A assembly. Under ASTM E108 and CAN/ULC-S107 the fire classification belongs to the whole assembly (covering, underlayment and deck), so the same covering can rate differently on a different build-up. On our roofs, Class A Fire Rated Available as a complete assembly: two layers of GAF VersaShield® over 12 mm plywood.
Is a metal roof fire resistant?
Aluminum does not ignite, so embers landing on it have nothing to burn. The fire rating, though, is for the assembly: Interlock® roofs have Class A Fire Rated Available as a complete assembly, with two layers of GAF VersaShield® over 12 mm (15/32-inch) plywood, per ASTM E108.
What is a Class A fire-rated roof assembly?
A roof assembly that passed the most severe of the three fire tests in ASTM E108 (UL 790) or CAN/ULC-S107: flame spread of no more than 1.8 m (6 ft), a 30 cm burning brand of about 2,000 g without the deck igniting, and 15 cycles of intermittent flame. Class B and C use smaller brands and allow more spread.
Are asphalt shingles fire resistant?
Most fibreglass asphalt shingles are Class A, as tested. The weak point in a wildfire is usually what sits on and around them: needles and leaves in valleys and gutters, open vents and gaps at the eaves.
Are cedar shakes a fire risk?
Untreated cedar shakes are commonly unrated, and FireSmart BC describes them as a dangerous combination of fuel and gaps where embers can lodge. Treated shakes do better, but the treatment can weather out.
Does a metal roof make my house fireproof?
No roof does, and no honest roofer will say so. A Class A assembly and a covering that does not ignite take away the largest ember target on the house. Clear gutters, screened vents, a non-combustible strip around the walls and managed trees do the rest.
Do I need a Class A roof assembly in BC?
It depends on where you build. Some BC municipalities set roofing requirements in wildfire development permit areas, and the rules differ from place to place, so check with your municipality before you start. Where it isn't required, FireSmart BC still recommends fire-resistant roofing for homes near forest or grassland.
Will a fire-resistant roof lower my insurance?
Each insurer sets its own rates and rules, so ask yours directly and get the answer in writing. One Kelowna customer told us their 23-year-old asphalt roof was deemed uninsurable; a new roof with a documented Class A assembly is something you can show your insurer.
How far can wildfire embers travel?
FireSmart BC says embers can be carried up to 2 km ahead of a wildfire by the wind and the fire's own energy. That is why homes well outside the fire's edge still catch, and why the roof, gutters and vents matter so much.
Can you install the Class A assembly on my house?
Yes, on the North Shore and across BC. Tell us at the estimate that you want the Class A assembly priced, and we'll walk the whole roof edge with you: gutters, vents, eaves and anything else embers could reach. Call (604) 210-3850 or book a free consultation.
Sources
- BC Wildfire Service: Wildfire season summary
- FireSmart BC Homeowner's Manual
- FireSmart BC: The Home Ignition Zone, remodelled
- Soprema: CAN/ULC-S107 roof fire resistance
- ASTM E108 / UL 790 test summary
- Okanagan Mountain Park Fire (2003)
- 2018 British Columbia wildfires
- 2021 British Columbia wildfires
- 2026 season to Sept 10 (Canadian Press)
- Bald Range fire (2026)
Figures are as published by each source on the date noted. Page reviewed October 2026.
Related
Communities we serve on the North Shore
Get the Class A assembly priced.
A fixed price in writing after one visit. Interlock Metal Roofing (BC) Ltd. · 9969 River Way, Delta, BC V4G 1M8
