With deference to Smokey The Bear, we all have a role to play in preventing wildfires.
That is the simple, but vital message in FireSmart BC鈥檚 new awareness campaign - Our Part, Your Part.
鈥淲ildfire prevention is a shared responsibility,鈥� Hannah Swift, acting program lead for FireSmart BC, explained. 鈥淪imple tasks like cleaning your roof and gutters and moving combustible materials away from the home can make your property more resilient to wildfire.鈥�
She pointed out that embers being blown ahead of a wildfire can be especially dangerous.
鈥淲hen embers ignite materials around a home, that鈥檚 what causes significant damage or structure loss.鈥�
That is the Your Part of the campaign, removing those materials significantly reduces the chance of a home catching fire, Swift added. Our Part refers to the role of first responders and emergency organizations in preparing and responding to wildfires.
The idea behind FireSmart is that a wildfire will be able to pass through a community without igniting structures.
鈥淭he goal is for flammable materials around a home to be removed鈥f a fire does come through it limits the amount of damage done,鈥� Swift said.
Knowing how to best protect your property is crucial, and there are resources on the FireSmart BC website that can help property owners identify problem areas.
鈥淚t will give you tips on鈥idying your yard and making sure your property is fire resilient,鈥� Swift added.
She noted that wildfires and extreme weather events make for a dangerous combination for first responders who don鈥檛 have time to get in and protect homes.
鈥淥ver the past five years, we鈥檝e had three of the most significant fire seasons on record. It takes an all-of-society approach鈥o do their part to protect their communities from the threat of wildfires.鈥�
The 2023 wildfire season was the most destructive in B.C. recorded history which saw 2,245 wildfires burn more than 2.84 million hectares of forest and land.
Swift added that emergency planning is also vital.
鈥淧eople need to be ready, aware, and ready to leave at a moment鈥檚 notice. Having a grab-and-go bag and an emergency community plan are important.鈥�
More information is available on the FireSmart BC website.
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