Photo: Cameron Hill · CC0A flood study covers Old Barrhaven West: 1 on the national inventory, the newest from Rideau Valley Conservation Authority
Fire has left almost no mark near Old Barrhaven West: 0% of the land within 25 km since 1986, 0.000% a year. Shaking is a bigger worry than in most places, at $0.15 a year per $1,000 of building value ($0.030 typical). Radon is about average around Old Barrhaven West: 6.2% of tested homes in the survey area topped the guideline, against 6.6% for the typical town. Hazard risk gives Old Barrhaven West a grade of C+, from earthquakes and radon alone.
What stands out about Old Barrhaven West’s hazards
For Old Barrhaven West, from NRCan’s seismic model, Health Canada’s radon survey, the national burned-area record and the flood map inventory.
What Old Barrhaven West faces
Each hazard against its own yardstick; meters run from low to high on that yardstick.
Wildfire
Earthquakes
Radon
Flood study
Old Barrhaven West grades C+ for hazard risk
For Old Barrhaven West, Risk will be the average of earthquakes and radon, with wildfire added only if it makes the average worse.
Its place: #703 of 866 in Ontario and #1,894 of 2,589 Canadian towns.
How sure: The seismic figure is a long-run average from NRCan’s model, not a prediction. Only 64 homes were tested in the survey area, so the radon share is rough. The burned-area record misses fires under about 10 ha and most grass and farm fires.
Little of the land around Old Barrhaven West has burned: 0% within 5 km, 0% within 25 km since 1986
Past fire around Old Barrhaven West’s homes, from the national burned-area record, with the fuel within 5 km.
Forty years of fire maps put Old Barrhaven West at 0.000% a year, low next to the typical Canadian town’s 0.000%.
The 5 km ring around Old Barrhaven West’s homes is clear of burns since 1986, the nearest 24 km out.
The forest starts beyond town: 3.9% of the land within 5 km of Old Barrhaven West’s homes is forest fuel, against 11% 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 Ontario · highest of 871
To three decimals the burn rate around Old Barrhaven West is zero, as for 638 of the 871 towns in Ontario, while Sioux Lookout reaches 0.16%.
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.
Measured against 2,610 towns, Old Barrhaven West is in the largest group, low (92%), and at its floor, while 7.5% 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.
Old Barrhaven West is on the flood map inventory: 1 study, by Rideau Valley Conservation Authority
What Canada’s Flood Map Inventory lists for Old Barrhaven West: who studied flooding and where to see their maps.
One study on the inventory touches Old Barrhaven West, Rideau Valley Conservation Authority’s from 2005, and its area can be large, so it says a map exists, not that the town floods.
| Study | By | Year | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jock River | Rideau Valley Conservation Authority | 2005 | final |
Towns with a flood study on file
69% of towns in Ontario have a flood study, more than Canada’s 58%; Old Barrhaven West has one too.
NRCan Canada Flood Map Inventory: a study footprint touching the town’s boundary; towns of 2,500 people or more.
Flood is shown here, never graded: a study says where a map exists, not how many of Old Barrhaven West’s homes stand in a flood zone.
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.
High seismic risk in Old Barrhaven West: $0.15 per $1,000 of buildings a year
Expected yearly building losses from earthquakes, from Natural Resources Canada’s model.
Roughly 5 times the typical $0.030: Old Barrhaven West’s $0.15 marks real seismic exposure.
Nobody publishes earthquake risk for Old Barrhaven West alone, so this card uses the figure for the city of Ottawa.
Shaking damage a year per $1,000 of building value
The typical town in Ontario expects $0.043 a year; Old Barrhaven West expects $0.15, and Alexandria $0.21.
NRCan seismic risk model (2022): mean yearly building loss per $1,000 of value; medians of towns of 2,500 people or more.
Old Barrhaven West sits above most of Canada’s 2,611 towns on earthquake risk; 15% are higher.
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 Old Barrhaven West 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 about average around Old Barrhaven West: 6.2% over the guideline
Long-term radon tests in homes across the survey area, against Health Canada’s guideline. · The radon tests numbers here cover the City of Ottawa Health Unit
Old Barrhaven West’s area, at 6.2%, is close to the 6.6% of the typical Canadian town.
Tested homes over 200 Bq/m³
Over 600 Bq/m³
Old Barrhaven West’s area, at 6.2%, is above the median in Ontario (4%).
Health Canada radon survey (2009–2011), by 2007 health region; medians of towns of 2,500 people or more.
Between 5% and 10% of tests over the guideline: Old Barrhaven West, and 37% of Canada’s 2,611 towns; 26% are 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.
Health Canada advises testing every home, Old Barrhaven West’s included, whatever the area’s figure.
Health Canada, Cross-Canada Survey of Radon Concentrations in Homes (2009–2011).
Where to get warnings in Old Barrhaven West
Environment and Climate Change Canada issues the weather alerts for Old Barrhaven West; Alert Ready carries the urgent ones to phones, radio and TV.
| 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. |
Smoke and fire warnings for Old Barrhaven West come through Environment Canada and Alert Ready; the fire map is CWFIS’s.
Weather alerts (ECCC) · Alert Ready · Fire danger and active fires (CWFIS)
How Old Barrhaven West’s neighbours compare on hazards
Wildfire band, earthquake risk, radon and flood studies for each place nearby.
| Town | Wildfire | Quake $/1,000 | Radon | Flood study |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Old Barrhaven West | Low | $0.15 | 6.2% | Yes |
| Old Barrhaven East 23,585 · 2.9 km | Low | $0.15 | 6.2% | None listed |
| Stonebridge - Half Moon Bay 28,714 · 3.0 km | Low | $0.15 | 6.2% | Yes |
| Chapman Mills 12,075 · 3.5 km | Low | $0.15 | 6.2% | Yes |
| Rideaucrest - Davidson Heights 13,998 · 4.8 km | Low | $0.15 | 6.2% | Yes |
| Trend-Arlington 3,844 · 6.2 km | Low | $0.15 | 6.2% | None listed |
| Riverside South - Leitrim 19,802 · 6.6 km | Low | $0.15 | 6.2% | Yes |
Old Barrhaven East (low) has the heaviest fire record of Old Barrhaven West’s neighbours, and Old Barrhaven West (low) matches or beats it.
Radon is the survey area’s figure, so neighbours in one area share it.
Get ready for what Old Barrhaven West faces
Practical steps for Old Barrhaven West’s hazards, most pressing first.
- 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.
- Drop, cover and hold on.
- Strap the water heater down.
- Keep 72 hours of supplies.
- Has it had a radon test?
- Check the address on the flood map.
- Are flood and wildfire insured?
- Is earthquake cover included?
What this data can and can’t tell you
- Radon is a survey. The radon share comes from about 14,000 long-term home tests in 2009–2011, pooled for now by the 2007 health region Old Barrhaven West sits in.
- Flood studies aren’t flood zones. A study’s area can be a whole watershed or province, so being on the inventory says a map exists, not that a home in Old Barrhaven West floods.
- 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 Old Barrhaven West.
- Earthquakes are modelled. The earthquake figure is an expected loss, not a forecast, worked out by NRCan for each census subdivision, Old Barrhaven West’s included.
Questions about flooding and hazards in Old Barrhaven West
Is radon a problem in Old Barrhaven West?
The area’s survey found 6.2% of 64 tested homes above Health Canada’s guideline, so a three-month test is worth doing in Old Barrhaven West.
How is Old Barrhaven West’s Hazard risk Grade worked out?
Old Barrhaven West’s Hazard risk grade is C+, built on earthquakes and radon with a one-sided wildfire input.
Is Old Barrhaven West at risk of wildfire?
Some, but Old Barrhaven West’s low band (0% of nearby land burned since 1986, latest 2014) is short of the level that counts.
Does Old Barrhaven West flood?
Old Barrhaven West’s area has been studied for flooding, and the owner’s map shows which streets lie in a zone; the grade leaves flood out.
How big is the earthquake risk in Old Barrhaven West?
NRCan’s model expects shaking to cost buildings in Old Barrhaven West $0.15 a year for every $1,000 of their value, on average over many years.
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).