Wildfire & Smoke: Access and Continuity Risk

GFS Insider: February Edition

Wildfire and smoke are no longer rare events for productions. Catastrophe reporting continues to show weather-driven events dominating global insured losses. For productions, this translates into real operational pressure.  

Air quality can deteriorate within hours. Access routes can close with little notice. Evacuation zones can expand rapidly. What begins as a distant fire can quickly become a direct production constraint.  

Smoke exposure is not just an environmental issue. It quickly becomes both a health and workforce management concern.  

Wildfires also create practical disruption through: 

• Road closures and restricted access 

• Evacuation alerts 

• Supply and transport interruptions 

• Sudden location changes 

• Power or infrastructure instability  

In addition, decisions made during wildfire conditions are often reviewed later. Productions are increasingly expected to demonstrate that choices to continue, modify, or pause work were based on clear information and reasonable judgement. 

A structured response reduces uncertainty.  

Practical controls include: 

• Assigning clear responsibility for monitoring air quality and fire alerts 

• Defining decision thresholds in advance, including when to modify, relocate, or pause 

• Establishing a documented escalation pathway so authority is clear under pressure 

• Identifying alternate locations and realistic unit move contingencies 

• Ensuring appropriate respiratory protection and viable fallback options 

• Briefing crew on reporting expectations if symptoms develop  

Wildfire risk cannot always be avoided. What can be controlled is how clearly and consistently the production responds to changing conditions. 

Planning for wildfire or smoke exposure on an upcoming production?  

SetConnect helps productions document monitoring responsibilities, decision thresholds, contingency plans and incident reporting in one structured environment – ensuring that responses to changing conditions are clear, consistent and defensible.  

Get in touch to see how it could support your next production.