FireSmart

The FireSmart Zone is the area around your home.?When completing FireSmart actions on your property, start at your home and work your way outwards. Changes made to the area closest to your home and your home itself will have the greatest impact on reducing the risk of wildfire damage. 

This should be a fire-resistant zone, free of all materials that could easily ignite from wildfire. A FireSmart yard includes smart choices for plants, shrubs, grass, and mulch. Selecting fire-resistant plants and materials will increase the likelihood of your home surviving a wildfire.

Here are some helpful tips to prepare your home and yard:

• Remove debris such as leaves, twigs, and needles from around the house and under decks.
• Remove trees, bushes, and other combustible materials from?the first?10 meters around home. Coniferous trees (i.e. fires, pines, junipers, cedars, etc) are highly flammable and should not be within 10 meters of your home.
• Keep lawns mowed and irrigated.
• Enclose decks with non-combustible materials to discourage the collection of debris and embers.
• Ensure a clean, fire-resistant roof and clean eaves.
• Enclose soffits and vents to ensure embers cannot enter.
• Keep firewood piles and other items stacked a least 10 meters from the house, especially during wildfire season.
• Remember to FireSmart any buildings or fences within 10 meters of the home as well.

• Remove accumulations of branches, needles, dry grass, and other debris from the ground.
• Remove vegetation and small trees that may act as a “ladder”, carrying fire into the treetops.
• Thin and space coniferous trees to a minimum of 3 metres apart to reduce hazards in this area.
• Prune branches within 2 meters of the ground. Deciduous trees (having leaves) are an exception; they help to hinder fire spread, so their removal is discouraged.

• Look for opportunities to make a fire break by creating space between trees and other potential flammable vegetation. Thinning and pruning are effective.
• Remove vegetation and small trees that may act as a “ladder”, carrying fire into the treetops.
• Space trees 3 meters apart and prune branches within 2 meters of the ground. Deciduous trees (having leaves) are an exception; they help to hinder fire spread, so their removal is discouraged.

Many of the FireSmart recommendations relate to the assumption that you have direct control over the property within 30 meters of your home. If that is not the case, chat with your neighbours about FireSmart—share information and consider apply to be a FireSmart Neighbourhood Champion which is part of the FireSmart Canada Neighbourhood Recognition Program. This program recognizes neighbourhoods that:

• Complete a neighbourhood assessment and FireSmart plan.
• Organize a local FireSmart committee.
• Host a FireSmart event, such as a clean-up day.
• Contribute in-kind or monetary support toward FireSmart actions.