FireSmart

What is FireSmart?
FireSmart™ is living with and managing for wildfire in your area and on your property. Becoming wildfire resilient is a shared responsibility across BC. FireSmart and its seven disciplines is an all-encompassing program, extending from the individual homeowner level up to a landscape land management level. FireSmart principles have shown that they are effective at reducing the risk to life and property in the most extreme wildfire conditions. The FireSmart program is backed by a vast amount of field, laboratory and wildfire modelling research. Its methods help reduce the risk of losses under even the most extreme fire conditions.

The City aggressively pursues wildfire threat reduction treatments on BC Crown and Municipal Crown lands within the City boundaries. These varied treatments include salvage harvesting, basic pine removal activity with heavy equipment, hand crew treatments involving danger tree removal, spacing and pruning, and surface fuel reduction activities.

Wildfire threat reduction efforts are not conducted to stop all fires, as this is not realistic or achievable. The objective is to:

use forest fuel management techniques to alter wildfire behaviour on the forested land adjacent to developments to greatly reduce the potential for house and structure losses
create safe access for wildland fire crews to more efficiently and effectively control wildfires
construct and maintain houses that are designed to withstand a wildfire

FireSmart, Intelli-feu and other associated Marks are trademarks of Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre Inc.

Wildfire threat reduction efforts are not conducted to stop all fires, as this is not realistic or achievable. The objective is to:

use forest fuel management techniques to alter wildfire behaviour on the forested land adjacent to developments to greatly reduce the potential for house and structure losses
create safe access for wildland fire crews to more efficiently and effectively control wildfires
construct and maintain houses that are designed to withstand a wildfire

FireSmart, Intelli-feu and other associated Marks are trademarks of Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre Inc.

Kamloops Fire Rescue Ask Residents to Remain Vigilant as Temperatures Rise

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As Kamloops prepares for warmer weather, Kamloops Fire Rescue is asking residents to be vigilant and aware of the dry conditions and is taking initial steps to mitigate the risk of interface fires in our community. Residents are encouraged to stay on high alert when it comes to the fire risk in our area. Ensure cigarettes are extinguished and discarded in an appropriate manner. If you smoke in your vehicle, consider using a metal ashtray or can to safely place cigarette butts for disposal later.
Read the full news release.
Kamloops Residents Encouraged to “FireSmart” Their Homes to Reduce Interface Fire Risk

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April 5, 2023–Kamloops Fire Rescue and the City of Kamloops are encouraging residents to take steps to become FireSmart. Since 2008, the City has actively been working its Community Wildfire Protection Plan, a well-planned, sustainable prevention and preparedness program that identified and quantified the forestland wildfire threats that directly impact on the developed land within Kamloops. As the City continues its fuel management treatments, residents are encouraged to embrace and initiate FireSmart actions to reduce the risk of fire their homes, properties, and neighbourhoods.
Read the full news release.
Become a FireSmart Neighbourhood Champion

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You and your neighbours have a major role to play in reducing the wildfire threat to your home. Changes made to the area closest to your home have the greatest impact on reducing the risk of wildfire damage. Ready to start making changes to your home?
A Neighbourhood Champion (a FireSmart™ Canada term) will help rally their neighbours and act as a point of communication with Kamloops Fire Rescue, a Local FireSmart Representative.
Many of the FireSmart recommendations relate to the assumption that you have direct control over the property within 30 metres of your home. If that is not the case, chat with your neighbours about FireSmart—share information and consider apply to be a FireSmart Neighbourhood Champion which is part of the FireSmart Canada Neighbourhood Recognition Program. This program recognizes neighourhoods that:
- complete a neighbourhood assessment and FireSmart plan
- organize a local FireSmart committee
- host a FireSmart event, such as a clean-up day
- contribute in-kind or monetary support toward FireSmart actions
FireSmart work is best done in spring after the snow melts and prior to ‘fire season’. As a neighbourhood, your team of worker bees, will work together to remove non-FireSmart landscaping from your private properties. The work is done by homeowners helping homeowners.
FireSmart wants to recognize neighbourhoods that begin working together to reduce their risk in the event of a wildfire. Is this your neighbourhood? Apply now to be your Neighbourhood Champion.
2022 Year in Review

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In 2022, Kamloops Fire Rescue saw an increase in Kamloops residents’ awareness of the FireSmart program. In total, 96 detached homes, 6 apartment buildings, and 19 strata properties requested FireSmart assessments. In total, 784 private homes and the 6 apartment buildings were equipped with the FireSmart tools and their owners provided with education on how their properties could be improved and protected.
In 2023, we will be continuing to grow the program and continue to work with neighbourhood associations to present information seminars, beginning with high-risk neighbourhoods. Kamloops Fire Rescue will be available to conduct FireSmart assessments in 2023 as soon as the snow begins to melt.
The City of Kamloops and Kamloops Fire Rescue would like to thank all the residents and strata councils that requested assessments this past year. Every step taken towards “FireSmarting” our homes contributes to safer neighbourhoods for everyone.