Why Structure Defence
Wildfire protection is not just about installing sprinklers.
It requires an understanding of how wildfires actually spread, how homes ignite, and how to reduce those risks effectively.
Structure Defence systems are built with a combination of FireSmart principles, wildfire behaviour knowledge, and practical firefighting experience.
Our goal is simple:
Give your home the best possible chance of surviving a wildfire event.
Built by Firefighters
Structure Defence was founded by firefighters who have witnessed firsthand how homes are lost and what practices have the best survival rates.
In many cases, the fire front never actually reaches the structure. Homes are often lost because embers ignite vulnerable areas around the property - roofs, decks, vegetation and combustable materials near structure.
Understanding these ignition pathways is critical when designing effective protection systems.
Our approach is based on real wildfire behaviour and operational experience, not guesswork.
Warren Gray, co-founder of Structure Defence, serves as Fire Chief for his rural BC community fire department and holds fire Officer level training. Over the past seven years he has deployed to more than a dozen wildfire incidents across BC, gaining firsthand experience with how structures ignite and how they can be protected.
Craig Nygard, co-founder, serves as a Fire Captain in his rural BC community fire hall, and also holds Officer level training. With six years in the fire services and multiple wildfire deployments across the province, Craig brings operational wildfire knowledge and field experience to every system we design.
Together we built Structure Defence to apply real firefighting knowledge to practical home protection systems - helping property owners reduce risk before a wildfire arrives.
Designed for Real Wildfire Conditions
Wildfire events are unpredictable.
During a wildfire event, structures may face:
Heavy ember showers
Low humidity
Strong winds
Rapid fire spread
Limited firefighter resources
Structure Defence systems are designed with these conditions in mind.
Every system considers:
Roof geometry
Property exposures
Vegetation layout
Water and electrical supply capacity
Sprinkler coverage patterns
The result is a system designed to create balanced rooftop and perimeter moisture coverage.
More Than Just Sprinklers
A sprinkler system alone cannot protect a home.
Many off-the-shelf rooftop sprinkler kits are installed without proper planning.
Poor placement often results in:
Uneven roof coverage
Dry areas where embers can ignite
Insufficient water distribution
Ineffective spray patterns in windy conditions
Effective wildfire defence requires a layered approach.
Structure Defence combines:
FireSmart landscaping practices
Strategic sprinkler placement
Moisture coverage of vulnerable surfaces
Humidity increase around the structure
Structure Defence systems are designed with these conditions in mind.
Every system considers:
Roof geometry
Property exposures
Vegetation layout
Water and electrical supply capacity
Sprinkler coverage patterns
The result is a system designed to create balanced rooftop and perimeter moisture coverage.
Built for Evacuation Scenarios
During wildfire events, homeowners are often required to evacuate. Once an evacuation order has been issued, there is often no opportunity to actively defend the home.
Structure Defence systems are designed to operate when you are not there, helping maintain moisture around the structure during critical wildfire conditions.
This added layer of protection can significantly improve a home’s chances of survival.
No system can guarantee a home will survive a wildfire Event. However reducing ignition risks dramatically improves the odds.
By combining FireSmart preparations with engineered moisture coverage, Structure Defence systems provide a practical and effective approach to protecting homes in wildfire-prone areas.