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What is FireSmart?
FireSmart is living with and managing for wildfire on our landscape. It is an initiative designed to help home and property owners reduce the chance of their property being affected by wildfire. FireSmart activities such as tree thinning, clearing and pruning occur at a regional level around a community to help reduce the risk of a wildfire entering the community. FireSmart also involves simple actions homeowners can do to their home and property to help decrease wildfire damage.
The greatest wildfire threats to homeowners are the transfer of wildfire from house to house (direct heat) and ignition from ember showers. An ember shower is when large embers are thrown from a wildfire and carried into the air. 50% of the homes burned from wildfires are started by sparks and embers. While FireSmart cannot totally remove the threat of damage from a wildfire, property loss can be significantly reduced by performing FireSmart activities.
Wildfires are an essential part of our ecosystem that aid in creating healthy, balanced forests. Wildfires recycle nutrients, help plants reproduce and create diverse habitats that benefit a variety of wildlife. By extending our lifestyle and communities further into forested areas our properties become more exposes to the danger of wildfire.
FireSmart Tips
When everyone follows simple steps we can significantly reduce the risks of wildfire in your community and around your home or property. The following are some tips for making your home and yard more fire resistant:
10 Metre Zone - remove all combustible material (twigs, dry grass, logs and leaves) within 10 metres of a structure.
Prune Trees - Prune evergreen tree branches 2 metres from the ground if they are within 30 metres of your home.
Mow - Regularly mow and water grass within 10 metres around your home and other structures.
Mulch - Do not use bark or pine needle mulch around your home they are highly flammable.
Landscaping - Plant fire-resistant plants and shrubs, such as supple leafy plants, around the home. Needled trees and shrubs such as spruce, pine, fir, cedars, and junipers are highly flammable.
Firewood - Keep firewood piles at least 10 metres from structures.
Fire Pits and Burn Barrels - Fire pits should be away from frees and overhanging branches. Ensure there is 3 metres free of combustible materials around a burn barrel. Do not leave either unattended.
Tree Spacing - Spacing trees 3 metres apart (at the top) around your home will help reduce the intensity of a wildfire.
Roof - Choose fire resistant material such as Class A, B or C rated roofing such as asphalt, metal or clay.
Gutters - Clean your gutters of debris regularly. Embers can ignite dry materials.
Chimney - A spark arrestor should be placed on your chimney to reduce sparks from escaping.
Eaves and Vents - Screen in your vents (3mm mesh) and close in your eaves. This reduces the chance of embers or heat igniting your roof.
Siding - Choose metal, stucco, brick/concrete, or fibre cement board, Vinyl and untreated timber siding provides little protection against fire.
Doors - All entry doors should be fire rated, this includes garage doors.
Decks - Enclose your decks and patios with fire resistant sheathing material to stop embers from collecting underneath and igniting a fire.
Windows - Tempered, thermal (double paned) windows are recommended.
Address - Clearly have your house number marked on your property so emergency vehicles can locate you.
Power lines - should be clear of branches and other vegetation. Contact your utility company for assistance.
What is FireSmart?
FireSmart is living with and managing for wildfire on our landscape. It is an initiative designed to help home and property owners reduce the chance of their property being affected by wildfire. FireSmart activities such as tree thinning, clearing and pruning occur at a regional level around a community to help reduce the risk of a wildfire entering the community. FireSmart also involves simple actions homeowners can do to their home and property to help decrease wildfire damage.
The greatest wildfire threats to homeowners are the transfer of wildfire from house to house (direct heat) and ignition from ember showers. An ember shower is when large embers are thrown from a wildfire and carried into the air. 50% of the homes burned from wildfires are started by sparks and embers. While FireSmart cannot totally remove the threat of damage from a wildfire, property loss can be significantly reduced by performing FireSmart activities.
Wildfires are an essential part of our ecosystem that aid in creating healthy, balanced forests. Wildfires recycle nutrients, help plants reproduce and create diverse habitats that benefit a variety of wildlife. By extending our lifestyle and communities further into forested areas our properties become more exposes to the danger of wildfire.
FireSmart Tips
When everyone follows simple steps we can significantly reduce the risks of wildfire in your community and around your home or property. The following are some tips for making your home and yard more fire resistant:
10 Metre Zone - remove all combustible material (twigs, dry grass, logs and leaves) within 10 metres of a structure.
Prune Trees - Prune evergreen tree branches 2 metres from the ground if they are within 30 metres of your home.
Mow - Regularly mow and water grass within 10 metres around your home and other structures.
Mulch - Do not use bark or pine needle mulch around your home they are highly flammable.
Landscaping - Plant fire-resistant plants and shrubs, such as supple leafy plants, around the home. Needled trees and shrubs such as spruce, pine, fir, cedars, and junipers are highly flammable.
Firewood - Keep firewood piles at least 10 metres from structures.
Fire Pits and Burn Barrels - Fire pits should be away from frees and overhanging branches. Ensure there is 3 metres free of combustible materials around a burn barrel. Do not leave either unattended.
Tree Spacing - Spacing trees 3 metres apart (at the top) around your home will help reduce the intensity of a wildfire.
Roof - Choose fire resistant material such as Class A, B or C rated roofing such as asphalt, metal or clay.
Gutters - Clean your gutters of debris regularly. Embers can ignite dry materials.
Chimney - A spark arrestor should be placed on your chimney to reduce sparks from escaping.
Eaves and Vents - Screen in your vents (3mm mesh) and close in your eaves. This reduces the chance of embers or heat igniting your roof.
Siding - Choose metal, stucco, brick/concrete, or fibre cement board, Vinyl and untreated timber siding provides little protection against fire.
Doors - All entry doors should be fire rated, this includes garage doors.
Decks - Enclose your decks and patios with fire resistant sheathing material to stop embers from collecting underneath and igniting a fire.
Windows - Tempered, thermal (double paned) windows are recommended.
Address - Clearly have your house number marked on your property so emergency vehicles can locate you.
Power lines - should be clear of branches and other vegetation. Contact your utility company for assistance.
