Photo: Historyted at English Wikipedia · Public domain17% of homes tested in Armstrong’s area are above the radon guideline
Wildfire is a moderate presence around Armstrong: 7.2% of the land within 25 km has burned since 1986, 0.18% a year, short of the band that counts against Risk. Shaking is about as much of a worry in Armstrong as in most places, at $0.020 a year per $1,000 of building value ($0.030 typical). Hazard risk gives Armstrong a grade of C; its wildfire band pulls it down.
What stands out about Armstrong’s hazards
For Armstrong, from NRCan’s seismic model, Health Canada’s radon survey, the national burned-area record and the flood map inventory.
What Armstrong faces
Each hazard against its own yardstick; meters run from low to high on that yardstick.
Wildfire
Earthquakes
Radon
Flood study
Hazard risk in Armstrong: C
Seismic risk and radon set Armstrong’s grade, wildfire can drag it down, and flood mapping stays out of it.
Its place: #218 of 254 in British Columbia and #2,053 of 2,589 Canadian towns.
How sure: The seismic figure is a long-run average from NRCan’s model, not a prediction. The burned-area record misses fires under about 10 ha and most grass and farm fires.
Some fire around Armstrong: 7.2% of the land within 25 km since 1986, 0% within 5 km
Past fire around Armstrong’s homes, from the national burned-area record, with the fuel within 5 km.
The yearly burn rate around Armstrong is 0.18%, above 0.000% for the typical Canadian town but under the high band.
The 5 km ring around Armstrong’s homes is clear of burns since 1986, the nearest 6.0 km out.
Forest thickens with distance from Armstrong: 33% of the land within 5 km, 61% within 25 km.
Shares of land within 5 and 25 km of populated blocks: burned at least once in 1986–2025 (CWFIS burned-area composite), forest fuel and grass (fire behaviour fuel types, 2026, 250 m grid).
Burn rate a year, towns in British Columbia · highest of 255
In the top quarter in British Columbia: Armstrong ranks 38th of 255 at 0.18% a year, with Oliver first at 0.98%.
Each bar: the yearly average share of land within 25 km of a town’s homes that burned, 1986–2025 (CWFIS); the seven highest towns of 2,500 people or more.
Armstrong is in the moderate band, which holds 5.4% of Canada’s 2,610 towns; 2.1% rank higher.
Bands of the yearly burn rate: low under 0.05%, moderate under 0.25%, high under 1%, very high 1% or more; towns of 2,500 people or more.
Fire danger and active fires (CWFIS)
Canadian Wildland Fire Information System: National Burned Area Composite 1986–2025 and fire behaviour fuel types (2026), Natural Resources Canada. Measured within 25 km and 5 km of each populated dissemination area; past fire, not a forecast.
City of Armstrong has mapped flooding for Armstrong (1 study)
What Canada’s Flood Map Inventory lists for Armstrong: who studied flooding and where to see their maps.
City of Armstrong studied flooding in an area that includes Armstrong (2019); open its map to see which streets lie in a flood zone.
| Study | By | Year | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| City of Armstrong Flood Mapping and Risk Assessment Report | City of Armstrong | 2019 | final |
Towns with a flood study on file
Flood maps are common in British Columbia: 76% of towns have one, against 58% nationally, and Armstrong is among them.
NRCan Canada Flood Map Inventory: a study footprint touching the town’s boundary; towns of 2,500 people or more.
Flood studies don’t enter the grade; they are listed so you can open the official map for Armstrong.
The inventory’s own caution (NRCan): “The Canada Flood Map (CFM) does not include every flood hazard map in Canada and may be incomplete or contain inaccuracies. It should not be relied upon as the official source of flood mapping information. Furthermore, if a map appears to be missing, this does not necessarily mean that the area has never been mapped. For the official version of a map, updated information, or confirmation of applicable regulations, please contact the local authority responsible for flood mapping.”
Natural Resources Canada, Canada Flood Map Inventory; links go to each study’s owner.
Earthquakes cost buildings in Armstrong $0.020 per $1,000 a year
Expected yearly building losses from earthquakes, from Natural Resources Canada’s model.
With $0.020 of shaking damage a year per $1,000, Armstrong is about even with the typical $0.030 (0.7 times).
Shaking damage a year per $1,000 of building value
At $0.020, Armstrong is below the typical town in British Columbia ($0.36); Duncan is highest at $1.33.
NRCan seismic risk model (2022): mean yearly building loss per $1,000 of value; medians of towns of 2,500 people or more.
Armstrong sits mid-range among Canada’s 2,611 towns: 64% expect more shaking damage.
Each column: the share of Canada’s towns of 2,500 people or more in that range of yearly loss per $1,000 (NRCan, 2022).
For Armstrong the model prices shaking damage to buildings, nothing more.
Natural Resources Canada, Canada’s Seismic Risk Model (2022), by census subdivision (2016 boundaries; a few 2021 subdivisions take their residents’ mean).
Radon runs high around Armstrong: 17% of tested homes over the guideline
Long-term radon tests in homes across the survey area, against Health Canada’s guideline.
the typical Canadian town has 6.6% over the guideline; Armstrong’s area has 17%.
Tested homes over 200 Bq/m³
Over 600 Bq/m³
More homes top the guideline around Armstrong (17%) than in the typical town in British Columbia (1.8%); 2.8% went over 600.
Health Canada radon survey (2009–2011), by 2007 health region; medians of towns of 2,500 people or more.
One test in ten or more tops the guideline around Armstrong, as in 22% of Canada’s 2,611 towns; 4.6% go higher.
Each bar: the share of Canada’s towns of 2,500 people or more whose survey area had that share of tests over 200 Bq/m³.
A low area share in Armstrong doesn’t clear a house, nor does a high one condemn it: test.
Health Canada, Cross-Canada Survey of Radon Concentrations in Homes (2009–2011). · Radon tests: one figure for all of the Okanagan health region
Where to get warnings in Armstrong
Alerts for Armstrong come from Environment and Climate Change Canada and, for emergencies, Alert Ready.
| Alert | What it means |
|---|---|
| Warning | Severe weather is happening or about to: act now. |
| Watch | Conditions favour severe weather: be ready. |
| Advisory | Weather that is less severe but could disrupt the day. |
| Special weather statement | Unusual weather worth knowing about. |
| Special air quality statement | Poor air, often wildfire smoke. |
Fire danger and active fires near Armstrong are mapped daily by the Canadian Wildland Fire Information System; evacuation orders come from the municipality or province.
Weather alerts (ECCC) · Alert Ready · Fire danger and active fires (CWFIS)
Hazards in the places around Armstrong
Wildfire band, earthquake risk, radon and flood studies for each place nearby.
| Town | Wildfire | Quake $/1,000 | Radon | Flood study |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Armstrong | Moderate | $0.020 | 17% | Yes |
| Spallumcheen 5,843 · 3.5 km | Moderate | $0.016 | 17% | Yes |
| Enderby 3,292 · 13 km | Moderate | $0.017 | 17% | Yes |
| Electoral Area D, Columbia-Shuswap 4,829 · 14 km | High | $0.010 | 6.4% | Yes |
| Electoral Area B, North Okanagan 3,415 · 16 km | High | $0.012 | 17% | Yes |
| Electoral Area C, North Okanagan 5,029 · 17 km | Moderate | $0.010 | 17% | None listed |
Fire is heaviest around Electoral Area B, North Okanagan (high), against moderate for Armstrong.
Radon is the survey area’s figure, so neighbours in one area share it.
Get ready for what Armstrong faces
Practical steps for Armstrong’s hazards, most pressing first.
- Clear needles and wood nearby.
- Keep a grab-and-go bag ready.
- In smoke, stay in; filter air.
- Test for three months in winter.
- Over 200 Bq/m³: fix it.
- Kits are cheap; pros test too.
- Never drive through floodwater.
- Move papers and medicines upstairs.
- Ask whether your street is mapped.
- Has it had a radon test?
- Check the address on the flood map.
- How close is the forest edge?
- Are flood and wildfire insured?
What this data can and can’t tell you
- Wildfire counts one way. Burned land within 25 km of where people live, averaged over 1986–2025 and checked for fuel near homes, is the measure; it looks back, not ahead, and only ever counts against Armstrong.
- Flood studies aren’t flood zones. Flood studies cover areas of every size, which is why the page lists them for Armstrong without grading them.
- Radon is a survey. Radon figures pool the survey’s home tests by area: postal areas once their boundaries arrive, the 2007 health region around Armstrong until then.
- Earthquakes are modelled. The earthquake figure is an expected loss, not a forecast, worked out by NRCan for each census subdivision, Armstrong’s included.
Questions about flooding and hazards in Armstrong
Is Armstrong at risk of wildfire?
Some, but Armstrong’s moderate band (7.2% of nearby land burned since 1986, latest 2025) is short of the level that counts.
How big is the earthquake risk in Armstrong?
In NRCan’s seismic model, Armstrong’s buildings lose $0.020 per $1,000 of value in an average year.
Is radon a problem in Armstrong?
The area’s survey found 17% of 109 tested homes above Health Canada’s guideline, so a three-month test is worth doing in Armstrong.
How is Armstrong’s Hazard risk Grade worked out?
Hazard risk gives Armstrong C, weighing earthquakes and radon and counting wildfire only against it.
Does Armstrong flood?
A flood study covers Armstrong on Canada’s Flood Map Inventory; open the owner’s map to check a street, since flood isn’t graded.
Seismic risk: Natural Resources Canada. Radon: Health Canada. Wildfire: Canadian Wildland Fire Information System. Flood studies: Natural Resources Canada, Canada Flood Map Inventory. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada.
Sources: NRCan, Canada’s Seismic Risk Model 2022 · Health Canada, Cross-Canada Survey of Radon Concentrations in Homes · CWFIS, National Burned Area Composite and FBP fuel types · NRCan, Canada Flood Map Inventory. Under the Statistics Canada Open Licence.
Adapted from Statistics Canada (Census of Population 2021, population estimates 2025, 2021 census boundaries) under the Statistics Canada Open Licence; this does not constitute an endorsement by Statistics Canada. Neighbourhood names in some cities © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).