North Shuswap Kicker April 2022

April 2022
Stop Thinking Season-to-
Season When it Comes to
Wildfire Preparedness
By Len Youden,
CSRD FireSmart Coordinator
“What’s the wildfire forecast for this summer?”
It’s a question we always hear this time of year.
It is a reasonable question to ask but the reality is, no
one knows. Bad wildfire seasons generally come in twoto-three-year
cycles, so given last year’s devastating season
we could reasonably expect another active fire year.
However, Environment Canada’s seasonal forecast for BC
is for a colder and wetter spring.
The statistics tell us wildfire seasons in general are
getting longer and more severe. This coming season could
be worse or less severe than last year, but the trend suggests
the frequency and duration of wildfires will continue
to increase over time. This means we need to stop thinking
season-to-season. Instead, we need to have a long-term
plan.
Snow is off the ground now in most areas of the
North Shuswap and many residents are likely well into
their spring clean up and maintenance. With the CSRD
FireSmart Program now entering its fourth year, we sometimes
hear from residents that the process of FireSmarting
their property can be overwhelming. This is exacerbated
in the middle of an extreme wildfire season, like last year,
when people are frantically removing hazards from around
their homes.
The reality is most residents would have a difficult
time FireSmarting their property over a weekend, a summer
or even a year. But if you start chipping away at hazards
each spring, fall or weekend throughout the summer,
over the course of the year or a couple of years, you will
have a FireSmart property. Small steps add up over time
and we know they make a difference.
FireSmart can be an overwhelming topic, but every
property owner in the CSRD can request a free home and
neighborhood wildfire hazard assessment. Through a provincially
funded grant, you can have a trained professional
help you identify hazards and develop a priority plan to reduce
them. The CSRD FireSmart web page is also full of
information and tips to reduce risk.
FireSmart principles are proven methods that reduce
property loss and damage due to wildfire. It takes a bit of
education and some effort, but you might be surprised at
how many are very simple.
Don’t wait until we have a wildfire to start thinking
about what you can do. Leaving hazard mitigation to the
last minute is not as effective as constantly working towards
risk reduction.
Instead of asking what the forecast will be for this season,
let’s assume sometime in the next three years, we will
have another record-breaking season. That is a reasonable
time frame where any resident can dramatically reduce
their risk with some planning and effort.
For more information on the CSRD FireSmart Program
visit https://www.csrd.bc.ca/firesmart , email
firesmart@csrd.bc.ca or call 1-888-248-2773.
Book a
FREE
FireSmart
assessment and
you could qualify for a
$
500 rebate.*
www.csrd.bc.ca/firesmart
Protect your Home
from Wildfires
The North Shuswap Kicker
RISKS arehIDDEN
in
PLAIN SIGHT
Cedar hedges and juniper bushes are a major
risk to a home in the event of embers being
thrown from a wildfire. These plants ignite
very quickly and burn rapidly. Let us help
you understand your risk.
Call for a FREE FireSmart
Assessment of your home.
www.csrd.bc.ca/firesmart
EMAIL firesmart@csrd.bc.ca
CALL TOLL FREE 1.888.248.2773
LEARN MORE
Not every tree in your yard
is a risk to burning your
home down but some are
ESPECIALLY
DANGEROUS
How much risk are
you willing to take?
* Must meet eligibility requirements. View at www.csrd.bc.ca/firesmart
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