From homeowners to industry and government, we all have a responsibility to lessen the effects of wildfire. Wildland Urban Interface is a popular term used to describe an area where structures and forested areas meet. Simply put, Wildland Urban Interface is where the urban lifestyle meets environments that are prone to wildfire. By choosing to extend our lifestyle and communities further into forested areas, we become more exposed to the danger of wildfire.
Metchosin’s FireSmart program, based on the FireSmart Canada model, is committed to educating Metchosinites on the risks of wildfires and mitigating their impact through the implementation of homeowner and community based solutions.
We’re here to give you practical information about the program and teach how you can mitigate the risk of wildfires alongside the community.
FireSmart Did You Knows
- Bark mulch is highly flammable. Remove bark mulch from around your home and don’t lead fire to your door.
- Embers, also known as firebrands, can be carried up to 2 kilometres ahead of a wildfire.
- Cleaning your roof and gutters of leaves and pine needles (best done fall and spring) is a free FireSmart Activity!
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- Moving your firewood 10-30 meters away from your house is a free FireSmart activity!
- Did you know that embers can enter your home through your garage door? Weather stripping can make a huge difference!
- Wildfires can spread up to 11 km/hour in forests and 22 km/hour in grasslands – make sure you have an evacuation plan with your family and stick to it!
- Pruning the lower branches of trees to 2 metres is a free FireSmart activity!
- Embers can get into homes easily through vents and other openings and burn your home from the inside out. Walk around your house and see what openings you should install screens on!
- Did you know that 50% of the homes burned from wildfires are started by sparks or embers?
- Wooden fences create a direct path from the fire to your home. Separating your house from a wooden fence with a metal gate can slow the advance of a fire.
- Did you know that embers can enter your home through your garage door? Weather stripping can make a huge difference!
- Relocating propane tanks 10 meters from your house is a free FireSmart activity!
- Burning embers can travel up to 9 kilometres from the flaming edge of a forest fire. Is your home in that range?
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Creating a family communication plan is a great idea to ensure your family is prepared in the event of an evacuation.
- Every inside corner of your roof is a place where debris and embers can collect – clean them regularly!
- Most houses are burnt in wildfires because of ember attacks. Embers can cause fires many kilometres in from the main fire. You need to ensure that your home is properly prepared to withstand ember attacks.
- A spark arrestor on your chimney will reduce the chance of sparks and embers escaping and starting fires.