FireSmart

Be FireSmart:

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. 

FireSmart is a program developed by FireSmart Canada to help homeowners living in the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) identify and address wildfire threats on their property. The Wildland Urban Interface is the area where houses meet or intermingle with undeveloped wildland vegetation. The WUI is a focal area for human-environment conflicts such as wildfires. 

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 better defend your home.

What the District is doing: 

Squamish Fire Rescue launched a FireSmart "Community Chipper Days" pilot project in July 2018 to help reduce wildfire impact. Residents in designated areas where houses meet or intermingle with undeveloped wildland vegetation (wildland urban interface - WUI) will be encouraged to FireSmart their property by bringing excess yard waste to the curb where it will be chipped and disposed of for free. 

How are homes chosen?

The FireSmart Community Chipper Days program selects neighbourhoods identified in our Community Wildfire Protection Plan as being at a higher wildfire risk within the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI).

What you can do: 

You and your neighbours have a role to play in reducing the wildfire threat to your home. Changes made to the area closest to your home and your home itself have the greatest impact on reducing the risk of wildfire damage. Follow these tips to protect your home:

• Remove all combustibles within the first 10 metres around your home;
• Space coniferous trees 3 metres apart;
• Prune coniferous tree branches within 2 metres off the ground;
• Plant low-density, fire-resistant plants and shrubs with moist, supple leaves;
• Remove all dead vegetation and clean up your yard regularly;
• Integrate FireSmart best practices into your short and long-term renovation projects.

Please remember that dumping yard waste is illegal and it substantially increases both the fire load and fire risk to the entire neighbourhood. Homeowners are encouraged to look ahead to the next wildfire season and keep FireSmart best practices in mind during fall yard maintenance. 

Resources:

Residents:

• 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.

Contractors:

• Download the FireSmart Home Development Guide

Landscapers:

• Download the FireSmart Guide to Landscaping