Photo: Konstantin Papushin · CC BY-SA 2.0A quiet place for hazards: low wildfire, little earthquake risk, and 2.7% of tested homes over the radon guideline in University’s area
No wildfire is mapped within 25 km of University’s homes since 1986 (0% of the land, 0.000% a year). NRCan expects $0.043 of shaking damage a year per $1,000 of buildings in University, near the typical $0.030. Hazard risk gives University a grade of A−, from earthquakes and radon alone.
What stands out about University’s hazards
Four national sources, each read for University: earthquakes, radon, past fires and flood studies.
What University faces
Each hazard against its own yardstick; meters run from low to high on that yardstick.
Wildfire
Earthquakes
Radon
Flood study
University grades A− for hazard risk
Risk averages earthquakes and radon; wildfire joins only where it pulls the average down, so a town like University with little fire nearby would get no credit for it.
Its place: #285 of 866 in Ontario and #700 of 2,589 Canadian towns.
How sure: The seismic figure is a long-run average from NRCan’s model, not a prediction. The radon share rests on 74 home tests in the survey area, so a few homes move it. Small fires and grass fires are largely missing from the national burned-area record.
Little of the land around University has burned: 0% within 5 km, 0% within 25 km since 1986
Past fire around University’s homes, from the national burned-area record, with the fuel within 5 km.
The land within 25 km of University burns at 0.000% a year on average, the low band; the typical Canadian town: 0.000%.
Forest fuel is scarce around University: 0.2% of the land within 5 km, 0.6% 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
Among the 871 towns in Ontario, Sioux Lookout burns fastest (0.16% a year); University is with the 638 near zero.
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.
Only 7.5% of Canada’s 2,610 towns are above the low band, which holds 92%; University, at a rounded zero, is far from them.
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.
The flood map inventory lists nothing for University
What Canada’s Flood Map Inventory lists for University: who studied flooding and where to see their maps.
There is no study for University on the national flood inventory, which is far from complete.
Towns with a flood study on file
Flood maps are common in Ontario, 69% of towns against 58% nationally, but none in the inventory touches University.
NRCan Canada Flood Map Inventory: a study footprint touching the town’s boundary; towns of 2,500 people or more.
Flood mapping is shown for University to be opened and checked, never turned into a grade.
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.”
Expected shaking damage in University: $0.043 a year per $1,000
Expected yearly building losses from earthquakes, from Natural Resources Canada’s model.
Nothing unusual about University’s ground: $0.043 against a typical $0.030, 1.4 times.
Nobody publishes earthquake risk for University alone, so this card uses the figure for the city of Toronto.
Shaking damage a year per $1,000 of building value
University’s $0.043 is close to the median in Ontario, $0.043; Alexandria is highest at $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.
Middle of the pack: 36% of Canada’s 2,611 towns have more earthquake risk than University.
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).
Roads, pipes and bridges aren’t in University’s figure, nor landslides or tsunami: it is buildings and shaking.
Natural Resources Canada, Canada’s Seismic Risk Model (2022), by census subdivision (2016 boundaries; a few 2021 subdivisions take their residents’ mean).
2.7% of homes tested around University are over the radon guideline
Long-term radon tests in homes across the survey area, against Health Canada’s guideline. · Radon tests for the City of Toronto Health Unit
Radon runs below the typical Canadian town (6.6%) in University’s area, at 2.7%.
Tested homes over 200 Bq/m³
Over 600 Bq/m³
University’s area, at 2.7%, is below the median in Ontario (4%).
Health Canada radon survey (2009–2011), by 2007 health region; medians of towns of 2,500 people or more.
The quietest radon band, under 5%, holds 37% of Canada’s 2,611 towns and University; 63% sit 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.
The survey sampled homes around University; it can’t tell you your basement’s level.
Health Canada, Cross-Canada Survey of Radon Concentrations in Homes (2009–2011).
Weather and fire alerts for University
Alerts for University 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. |
Alert Ready carries evacuation orders for University to phones; CWFIS shows the day’s fire danger.
Weather alerts (ECCC) · Alert Ready · Fire danger and active fires (CWFIS)
How University’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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University | Low | $0.043 | 2.7% | None listed |
| Palmerston-Little Italy 13,171 · 1.0 km | Low | $0.043 | 2.7% | None listed |
| Annex 30,705 · 1.1 km | Low | $0.043 | 2.7% | Yes |
| Kensington-Chinatown 18,597 · 1.3 km | Low | $0.043 | 2.7% | None listed |
| Trinity-Bellwoods 15,691 · 1.4 km | Low | $0.043 | 2.7% | None listed |
| Bay-Cloverhill 17,591 · 1.6 km | Low | $0.043 | 2.7% | Yes |
| Wellington Place 25,729 · 1.9 km | Low | $0.043 | 2.7% | None listed |
Fire is no heavier anywhere nearby than around University (low), with Palmerston-Little Italy next at low.
Radon is the survey area’s figure, so neighbours in one area share it.
Get ready for what University faces
What to do about the hazards University faces, and what to ask before you buy.
- 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.
- Clear needles and wood nearby.
- Keep a grab-and-go bag ready.
- In smoke, stay in; filter air.
- Has it had a radon test?
- Ask the municipality for flood maps.
- Are flood and wildfire insured?
What this data can and can’t tell you
- Earthquakes are modelled. NRCan models what earthquakes would cost buildings each year on average, subdivision by subdivision; University’s figure is its subdivision’s.
- 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 University until then.
- Flood studies aren’t flood zones. Flood studies cover areas of every size, which is why the page lists them for University without grading them.
- Wildfire counts one way. Wildfire is read from the national burned-area record around University’s homes since 1986, a history of fire that may lower Risk but never raises it.
Questions about flooding and hazards in University
Is University at risk of wildfire?
The burned-area record shows next to nothing around University (0% within 25 km since 1986), so its band is low.
Is radon a problem in University?
Around University, 74 survey homes were tested and 2.7% came in over 200 Bq/m³, a guide to the area, not to any one home.
How is University’s Hazard risk Grade worked out?
University’s Hazard risk grade is A−, built on earthquakes and radon with a one-sided wildfire input.
Does University flood?
With 0 studies on the inventory, University’s flood risk is unmapped nationally; check with the municipality before buying.
How big is the earthquake risk in University?
NRCan’s model expects shaking to cost buildings in University $0.043 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).