Squamish Fire Rescue urges residents to be FireSmart this season

Free wood chipping services to be offered during pilot project July 22 and 29 in upper Garibaldi Highlands and Plateau Drive/Crescent

Squamish Fire Rescue is urging the public to take extra precautions at home and while recreating in the backcountry as wildfire season continues in B.C. Squamish’s forested landscape puts the District of Squamish at a heightened risk for fires in the wildland urban interface (WUI), the area where houses meet or intermingle with undeveloped wildland vegetation.

Residents are encouraged to be extra vigilant and follow these tips to reduce the risk of wildfire damage:

• Remove all combustibles within the first 10 metres around your home;
• Space coniferous trees three metres apart;
• Prune coniferous tree branches within two 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, such as choosing fire resistant materials. 

“We’ve seen the catastrophic results of wildfire in urban communities and all it takes is just one small spark,” says District of Squamish Mayor Patricia Heintzman. “We can all do our part to reduce the potential impacts of wildfire closer to home and help our local firefighters better defend our community in the event of a wildfire incident.”

Free wood chipping services offered July 22 and 29

Squamish Fire Rescue has received $10,000 in grant funding to support FireSmart initiatives that will help homeowners identify and address wildfire threats on their property. The funding will allow for a Community Chipper Days pilot program during which residents in designated areas 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. The Community Chipper Days will be held on Sunday, July 22 for residents on Plateau Drive and Plateau Crescent, and Sunday, July 29 for residents on Tobermory Way and Thunderbird Ridge from 40510 and up. The neighbourhoods chosen for the Community Chipper Days pilot program were chosen due to their close proximity to the WUI where the risk of human-environment conflicts such as wildfires is greater.

"Recent interface fires in western Canada have shown just how devastating a wildland fire can be, but they have also shown that if a property owner takes the right precautions homes can survive more-or-less untouched," says Squamish Fire Chief Bill Stoner. "The FireSmart program gives homeowners the tools they need to keep their properties safe, even through extremely challenging conditions."

FireSmart Canada works with communities nationwide to reduce the threat of wildfire. For more FireSmart tips and to download the FireSmart Homeowners’ Manual visit squamish.ca/firesmart.

For information on the District’s FireSmart program or the Community Chipper Days, contact Squamish Fire Rescue at sfr@squamish.ca or 604.898.9666.

July 18, 2018