Is your neighbourhood FireSmart?
It should be considering the extreme summers we’ve been having.
In fact, it doesn’t take much to get certified as a FireSmart community.
The neighbourhood I live in got together a few times to clean up some fire hazards, de-limb a few trees, and clean out our gutters.
Many households also underwent individual assessments with the BC Wildfire Service. Ours involved a recommendation to remove all pine tree limbs two metres up from the ground, in addition to raking up all pine needles (which I had already done before the assessment). We were also encouraged to remove the bottom panel of our home siding to prevent fire spread.
Property owners are encouraged to have at the very least a 1.5 metre non-combustible zone around their entire home. Never pile wood against your home . . . that’s a major fire hazard.
Don’t underestimate small embers from a nearby fire – 50 per cent of home fires caused by wildfires are started by sparks and embers.
Remember to remove all windblown leaves from under decks, as well as flammable debris on balconies and patios.
Do not use bark mulch within 10 metres of your home; use decorative crushed rock instead.
If you have a burn barrel, keep it as far away from structures and trees as possible. It should also be screened with a fine wire mesh.
A good example of a FireSmart community is Anarchist Mountain, where the fire department has assisted many homeowners in making their properties more resistant to fire.
It seems like a big job at first, but if you whittle away at it you can get it done on a weekend. And once it’s done, whew! Some peace of mind heading into the summer.
