Geographical Information Systems-Based Wildfire Risk Analysis of Canadian Dialysis Facilities
Daniel McCollin1, Raja Sengupta2, Saly El Wazze3
1Department of Natural Resource and Environmental Management, The University of the West Indies Cave Hill Campus, Bridgetown, Barbados.
Kidney International Reports
|July 25, 2026
Summary
Canadian dialysis facilities face significant wildfire risks, with over two-thirds of patients potentially affected. A risk assessment reveals current risks don't always align with historical wildfire exposure, highlighting system vulnerabilities.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health
- Public Health
- Disaster Medicine
Background:
- In-center hemodialysis patients are highly vulnerable to disasters.
- System resilience requires strategic risk assessment.
- Wildfires pose a growing threat to healthcare infrastructure.
Purpose of the Study:
- To conduct a wildfire risk analysis of Canadian dialysis facilities (DFs).
- To assess current and historical wildfire exposure for DFs and estimate at-risk patients.
- To inform strategies for strengthening healthcare system resilience.
Main Methods:
- Geographical Information Systems (GIS) were used to integrate DF locations with wildfire data.
- Historical wildfire data (1994-2024) and current Fire Danger Risk Index were analyzed.
- Proximity analysis and risk categorization were performed for DFs and patients.
Main Results:
- 341 DFs serving 23,185 patients were mapped.
- A significant increase in wildfire frequency was observed between 1994 and 2024.
- 29.3% of DFs were within 5km of a wildfire; 67.3% of patients are at risk based on current fire danger levels.
Conclusions:
- Canadian dialysis facilities and patients face considerable wildfire-related risks.
- Current wildfire risk is not always correlated with historical exposure.
- Findings underscore the need for proactive disaster preparedness in dialysis care.
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