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FireSmart

Be FireSmart:

Wildfires can quickly spread from the forest to a community, becoming what is known as an “interface fire”. In the interface, where the wilderness and urban development meet, it is crucial that homeowners take the time to FireSmart their properties.

Community Chipper Days

October 3, 2021 - Garibaldi Highland residents who live on the following:

Greenwood Way
Highlands Way North
Portree Way
Jay Crescent

Chipping operations will take place between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Branch piles/materials should be placed curbside the night before or before 8 a.m. the day of.

What’s accepted:

Coniferous branches and/or shrubs up to 30cm in diameter (anything larger may damage the chipper)
Keep it Clean
Please no nails!
Please limit piles to approximately a large pickup truck sized load.

What is not accepted:

Organic materials such as grass, weeds and piles of leaves
Root balls
Construction waste
Dirt and rocks
Invasive species
Piles of leafy (deciduous) vegetation are discouraged

Questions?
firesmart@squamish.ca

Did you know?

Nearly half of all wildfires in B.C. are caused by people.
More than 50% of homes destroyed by wildfire are ignited by embers blown by the wind.
85-90% of homes with non-combustible roofs & 10 metres of clearance will survive a major wildfire.

structure survival stats
(source: https://firesmartbc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Wildfire-Structure-Survival-Statistics.pdf )

FireSmart is a program developed by FireSmart Canada and FireSmart BC to help homeowners living in or near forested areas identify and address wildfire threats on their property.

FireSmart homes and neighbourhoods allow firefighters to concentrate on fighting wildfires, which ultimately saves more homes and lives. Adopting FireSmart principles to your home and property can help reduce the potential impact of wildfires, and will help firefighters to better defend your home.

What you can do:

You and your neighbours have major a role to play in reducing the wildfire threat to your home. Changes made to the area closest to your home have the greatest impact on reducing the risk of wildfire damage. Ready to start making changes to protect your home?

Step 1: Complete the FireSmart Home Assessment or download the “FireSmart Begins at Home” App

Step 2: Identify which changes will make the greatest difference in reducing our home’s risk from wildfire.

Step 3: Check local and provincial regulations relating to the actions planned for your property. Open the Regulatory Considerations checklist.

Click to open full version

Some Considerations

Building permits for major home renovations
Tree removal permits (considering bird nesting season – zone A1), development permits for environmental protection, and the provincial Riparian Areas Protection Regulation. Riparian areas include lands adjacent to a ditch, and within 30 m of a watercourse or top of ravine bank.
Consult the Sea to Sky Invasive Species Council when removing and disposing of existing vegetation. Also consider whether any new vegetation that you wish to plant is classified as an invasive species.
Weekly organics pick up starts in April. Please remember that dumping yard waste is illegal and it substantially increases both the fire load and fire risk to the entire neighbourhood.

What the District of Squamish is doing:

The District of Squamish has been working towards making Squamish a FireSmart Community. In 2018 and 2019, Squamish Fire Rescue launched the "Community Chipper Days" pilot project. Residents in select neighbourhoods identified in our Community Wildfire Protection Plan as being at a higher wildfire risk were encouraged to FireSmart their property and dispose of tree limbs, branches at the curbside for chipping during specified times.

In 2018, Squamish Fire Rescue made a joint purchase of a Structural Protection Trailer with Whistler Fire Rescue. This trailer is equipped to help protect homes from an approaching wildfire threat.

The District of Squamish continues to work towards educating homeowners about FireSmart, particularly in those high-risk areas, in addition to applying FireSmart principals to District green spaces.

The development permit area will help ensure that new buildings will utilize best practices for building on the wildland/urban interface.

The District of Squamish is also working with consultants on fuel mitigation prescriptions and thinning treatments in selected high-risk areas identified in the Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP).

The District of Squamish has received a grant from the Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) to carry out the fuel mitigation prescriptions and treatments in 2020-2021.

Suggested timeline of Firesmart actions for residents of Squamish.
(click image to view larger or open the pdf)

Helpful Resources

Download FireSmart Homeowner's manual to begin your FireSmart journey and better protect your home.

Watch this brief video for an overview of FireSmart practices and what you can do at home.

Checkout the Get FireSmart podcast.

Thinking of renovating or rebuilding? Download the FireSmart Home Development Guide.