FireSmart

FireSmart™ is a national program that is used by communities across Canada to reduce the risk of future wildfire damage.

Advanced Home Assessment Program

The Advanced Home Assessment Program is an initiative that provides free FireSmart* assessments to homeowners throughout the region. Assessments are conducted by members from Regional Emergency Services and are designed to help homeowners identify potential wildfire hazards that may exist around their own homes and properties. After each assessment, homeowners will receive an easy-to-understand report of any hazards identified, along with FireSmart recommendations on how to reduce those hazards.

The assessment takes roughly 30 minutes to complete and is performed entirely outside the home.

Thank you for your interest in applying for a FireSmart Assessment. We had an historic season in 2022, completing over 600 home assessments! We are not taking any more applications this year; applications will open again in spring 2023!

_{*FireSmart, Intelli-feu and other associated Marks are trademarks of the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre.}

FireSmart in the region

In the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo, we live with the risk of wildfire. Because of this, we have a shared responsibility to protect our homes and our properties from the threat of wildfire damage. When homeowners, renters, business owners and government all work together, we can make a significant impact on reducing wildfire risk in our region.

As a municipality, we work to implement the seven disciplines of the FireSmart program within our region, to reduce our collective risk of future wildfire damage and to ultimately increase public safety.

The seven disciplines of FireSmart

Education
Vegetation management
Legislation
Development
Interagency cooperation
Emergency planning
Cross training

History of FireSmart

FireSmart is not a new initiative. In fact, the FireSmart program has been in our region since the early 2000s.

Prior to the May 2016 Horse River Wildfire, FireSmart vegetation management treatments were applied to densely forested areas near the Birchwood Trails, Ermine Crescent, Sicamore Place and Burns Place.

Since 2016, nearly 400 hectares of forested land surrounding our communities has been made safer with FireSmart prescriptions.

Current projects

FireSmart Interpretive Trail

Construction is underway on a new FireSmart Interpretive Trail project within the Birchwood Trail system. The FireSmart Interpretive Trail is being constructed near an existing set of trails along Cornwall Drive.

FireSmart at home

Wildfires are a natural part of Alberta's wildland ecosystems. Without wildfire, the landscape loses its diversity. But by choosing to extend our communities further into forested areas, we become more exposed to the threat of wildfire. While living close to where wildfires occur can put our homes at risk, it is still possible to live safely. We can do this by following FireSmart principles around our own homes and properties. When FireSmart begins at home, we not only reduce the risk of wildfire damage to our own home and property, but also to our neighbour's homes, our communities and our region.

Tips for being FireSmart at home

Graphic with FireSmart tips text

Know your zones

There are four priority zones that surround your home. They are:

The non-combustible zone (0-1.5 metres out from your home and deck).
Priority Zone 1 (1.5-10 metres out from your home and deck).
Priority Zone 2 (10-30 metres out from your home and deck).
Priority Zone 3 (30-100 metres from your home and deck).

Read about FireSmart changes you can make

Depending on your lot size, you may only have the ability to control some of the zones listed above. It's important to incorporate FireSmart changes, where possible on your property, to reduce your risk of future wildfire damage.

A full list of tips for each priority zone can be found in the FireSmart Canada Homeowners manual.

Tips for the non-combustible zone

The non-combustible zone is the area between 0-1.5 meters of your home and deck. This zone also includes the structure of your home itself and the materials used to build your home. Here are basic FireSmart tips for this zone:

Remove leaves, pine needles and other debris from your roof and gutters.
Ensure external siding is free from cracks, gaps or holes.
When building or renovating your home and/or deck, use non-combustible and fire-resistant materials
Maintain a 1.5 metre non-combustible zone around your home and deck. You can do this by raking down to mineral soil, laying rock or adding concrete.
Move combustible items such as toys, propane tanks and firewood piles being stored under your deck or up against your home. These items should be at least 10 meters away from your home or stored safely inside a shed or garage.
Ensure all doors going into your home are fire rated and have a tight seal. This also applies to garage doors.

Tips for priority zone 1

Mow grass and weeds within 10 metres of the house to 10 centimetres in length or less.
Clear vegetation and debris along both sides of combustible (wood) fence lines.
Plant deciduous (leafy) trees as opposed to evergreen trees, as evergreens dry out quickly and can ignite easily when in contact with embers and flame.
If evergreen trees are present in this zone, be sure to keep them well maintained by cleaning up fallen debris regularly and pruning branches up at least two meters from the ground.
Avoid using mulch in your garden beds. Mulch dries out quickly in our hot weather conditions and can ignite easily when in contact with embers and flame.
Include debris clean-up in Spring and Fall as part of your yard maintenance.

Tips for priority zone 2

Do not use bark or pine needle mulches within 10 metres of your home.
Burn barrels should be placed as far as possible from structures and trees. Keep the area within 3 metres of the burn barrel free of combustible material.
Power lines should be clear of branches and other vegetation. Contact your local utility company to discuss removing any branches or vegetation around overhead electrical installations.
Plant deciduous (leafy) trees as opposed to evergreen trees, as evergreens dry out quickly and can ignite easily when in contact with embers and flame.
Include debris clean-up in Spring and Fall as part of your yard maintenance.

Tips for priority zone 3

Remove low hanging branches within 2 metres off the ground.
Space trees 3 metres from branch tips to reduce the intensity and rate of spread of a wildfire.
Remove smaller evergreen trees that can act as a ladder for fire to move into the treetops.
Clean woody debris and combustible shrubs from the ground.
Clear vegetation from access routes to and from your home. Target trees and branches that would make it difficult for a fire truck to approach your home
If you have a large property, make sure your driveway has a turn around and, when possible, provide two access routes to your home
Remove all dead trees and shrubs around your property

2022 Wildfire Mitigation Strategy

The 2022 Wildfire Mitigation Strategy is a guiding document that Regional Emergency Services will use over the next five years to continue making our region a safer place to live.

Read the 2022 Wildfire Mitigation Strategy