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FireSmart in the Cowichan area
Wildfire is a risk that all citizens of the Cowichan Valley need to be prepared for. While that seems like a big task, FireSmart is here to help you get started and make proven steps toward protecting your home and community from wildfire.
Whether it's your house, your neighbourhood, critical infrastructure or vital resources, the CVRD has local experts and easily accessible resources that empower you to make your community safer.
An Introduction to FireSmart BC - watch the video below!
FireSmart Kick-Start Project Details
The goal of the FireSmart Kick-Start Project is to promote wildfire awareness, complete risk-reducing wildfire mitigation activities, and conduct FireSmart assessments to households and farms that are in a high wildfire interface area.
The CVRD will work with participating residences, farms and ranches to develop goals that tailor to their unique property by educating them in FireSmart principles and letting them know their available options.
Some homes and farms will be eligible for additional support where we conduct the risk-reducing wildfire mitigation activities by removing any hazardous vegetation and create buffer zones between flammable material and limb vegetation to FireSmart Standards.
Once the mitigation activities are complete, we will conduct post mitigation assessments of each property to let the owner know of any steps needed for the continuation of successful maintenance.
Want to Have Your Home or Farm Included in the Project?
Please click the Apply button below to fill out an assessment form and receive a reply from a local FireSmart representative. FireSmart assessments are free of cost.
Why Homes Burn
FireSmart Cowichan - Malahat Firehall Upgrade
The Cowichan Valley Regional District and the Malahat Volunteer Fire Department recently took on a FireSmart mitigation project. The project was a critical step towards reducing the wildfire risk to the Malahat Fire Hall. Please watch the video below to learn more.
FireSmart - Cowichan Area - Webinar Presentation
Curious about FireSmart Recognized Neighbourhoods? Watch a video about Whistler, B.C.'s experience.
- I think my property is in a low risk zone for wildfire, should I be concerned?
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It sounds like you are doing a great job maintain your property and keeping it FireSmart.
That being said, FireSmart diligence is a year-round activity and even a low risk property can become high risk once leaves or needles drop from trees.
Windstorms and tree shedding can create pockets of debris in corners and areas of your home that can become major hazards in a wildfire event. Embers from large fires can travel great distances and start fires miles away, so even the most prepared people can still be affected by a fire.
- I feel like FireSmart won’t make a difference on property?
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FireSmart is built upon scientific facts and practices that effectively make a difference no matter the unique characteristic of each property. If your unsure where to get started or you feel overwhelmed, please reach out to the CVRD FireSmart program at fire.smart@cvrd.bc.ca or better yet, sign up for the FireSmart Kick Start project to get your property assessed.
- How do I get started on making my neighbourhood a FireSmart neighbourhood?
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Check the CVRD website for tips and links on how to sign up as well as how to approach your neighbours.
Do you have a truck? Or a saw? You could reduce your own risk by helping your neighbours. Offer to take away branches, leaves and yard debris for a neighbour in need of some help.
- What is the home ignition zone and why is it so important?
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The home ignition zone is broken down into 4 zones.
- Non combustible zone: 0-1.5 meters
- Zone 1: 1.5-10 meters, create an area that does not easily transmit fire to the home.
- Zone 2: 10-30 meters, if property extents to this range remove dead or accumulated debris, prune trees to remove ladder fuels to prevent spread into crowns.
- Zone 3: 30-100 meters, this zone can be used to create fire breaks that can steer a fire around your home.