British Columbia FireSmart

KEY MESSAGES

Mitigating wildfire risk is a shared responsibility. Communities whose residents take collective steps to reduce their vulnerability have a greater chance of surviving a wildfire

FireSmart® BC is urging all BC communities to work towards the goal of becoming a FireSmart Recognized Community.

FireSmart BC’s new website, firesmartbc.ca, is a centralized resource dedicated solely to wildfire prevention through FireSmart, for property owners and communities in BC.

British Columbians can play a critical role in mitigating wildfire risks around their homes and properties by undertaking FireSmart initiatives. Homeowners who diligently implement the recommended FireSmart guidelines greatly increase the probability that their homes will survive a wildfire event.

FireSmart is the Canadian standard recognized by all provinces and territories. It is based on National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards that have evolved over the last 40 years.

FireSmart is backed by a vast amount of field, laboratory and modeling research. Its methods have been demonstrated to reduce the risk of losses, under even the most extreme fire conditions.

DISCIPLINES

There are Seven FireSmart Disciplines: These disciplines make up the framework for how FireSmart works on the home, community and provincial level.

• Education – Raising awareness of wildfire risks and teaching about prevention and mitigation.
• Emergency Planning – Encouraging emergency planning by combining local knowledge with expertise in wildfire management.
• Interagency Cooperation – Promoting collaboration between agencies and across different levels of government to better support wildfire preparedness, prevention, response, and recovery.
• Cross Training – Participating in cross-training opportunities like training with fire departments to improve capabilities in the Wildland Urban Interface.
• Fuels Management – Managing fuels on the landscape by using the best available science.
• Legislation and Planning – Development of policy and legislation related to: forestry management practices; integrated land use planning; compliance and enforcement programs; and legal orders.
• Development Considerations – Using effective local government and land use planning that supports community wildfire resiliency and infrastructure survivability.