As part of Emergency Preparedness Week and wildfire season Regional Emergency Services launched the FireSmart Begins at Home campaign to help educate home and property owners on the actions they can take to reduce the risk of wildfire damage.
Regional Fire Chief Jody Butz said there is no better time than now to start thinking about the risks that exist on our landscapes and what we can do to mitigate them.
Most of the solutions are affordable and quick to do.
“The FireSmart actions we’re promoting in this campaign are actions that almost any homeowner in our region can take,” said Butz. “In the winter months, we spend a lot of time mitigating wildfire risk on our Municipally-owned land through our vegetation management projects. Now, we’re looking to our residents to help us continue this hazard reduction work by making FireSmart changes at home.”
Tips include:
- Moving firewood piles and propane tanks away from your home
- Cleaning debris from your roof, lawn and gutters on a regular basis
- Keeping grass cut and watered, especially in dry weather conditions
- Creating a 1.5 metre non-combustible space around your home and deck
More information can be found on the Municipality’s website.
