FireSmart

West Kelowna FireSmart Grant Program Guidelines & Information

The goal of FireSmart is to encourage communities and citizens to adopt and conduct Fire Smart practices to mitigate the negative impacts of wildfire assets on public and private property.

The City of West Kelowna and Westbank First Nation, in partnership with the Community Resiliency Investment (CRI) Program, is offering funding to help property owners who demonstrate the use of FireSmart principles and initiatives to reduce the risk of wildfire damage to their homes and community.

This project may be subject to change in the future. Residents, community associations, and strata properties within the City of West Kelowna and Westbank First Nation are eligible to apply.

Submission deadline is November 15, 2021. All applications will be reviewed by a qualified Local FireSmart Representative.

Qualification Requirements

FireSmart activities must be located in the FireSmart Home Ignition Zone which includes the home and surrounding yard area – FireSmart Non-Combustible Zone and Priority Zone 1, 2, and 3. (Zones 2 and 3 considered after addressing concerns of Home Ignition Zone, Non-Combustible Zone, and Zone 1)
Only activities that are recommended in the completed assessment and that are identified in Table 1 are eligible for the rebate.
Rebates are limited to a maximum of 50% of the total cost of the eligible activities identified in the table and no more than $500 per property.
Residential property owners can complete the mitigation activities themselves, or hire others to complete the work.
Residential property owners must complete and submit a FireSmart Assessment using the FireSmart Home Ignition Zone Assessment Scorecard.
Residential property owners must complete and submit a FireSmart Grant Application.
A before and after photo of each project area from same position must be submitted.
Completed FireSmart Work Hours Form
Receipts of incurred expenses must be submitted (if applicable).

Eligible Activities for FireSmart Rebate

Home or Structure

Roof Material Gutters Vents and Openings

Install UL/ASTM fire-rated roofing (metal, clay, asphalt shingles)
Install non-combustible gutters and/or gutter covers
Remove roof surface tree needles, debris or overhanging branches
Install closed eaves and/or non-combustible fire-rated vents or vents with 3 mm screening

Building Exterior or Siding

Install ignition resistant (fiber cement board or log) or non-combustible (stucco, metal, brick/stone) exterior siding material
Repair gaps, cracks, or holes where embers could lodge or penetrate
Provide 15 cm non-combustible vertical ground-to-siding clearance

Windows & Doors

Install tempered glass in all doors and windows
Replace single pane window glass with multi pane / thermal window glass
Repair gaps in doors / garage doors where embers could accumulate or penetrate

Balcony, deck, porch

Install non-combustible or fire-rated, solid (no gaps or cracks) deck surface and support construction
Close up open deck structures or remove all combustibles below deck

Yard/Non-Combustible Zone (0 to 1.5 meters from Home)

1.5 meters from furthest extent of home

Replace combustible surfaces with non-combustible surfaces
Remove combustible debris, materials, fences or plants

Yard/Zone 1 (1.5 to 10 meters from Home)

6	Adjacent Combustibles	Move woodpiles, building materials and all other combustibles into Zone 2 or enclose in an outbuilding that meets FireSmart guidelines
7	Outbuildings not meeting FireSmart guidelines	Relocate outbuildings not meeting FireSmart guidelines more than 10 meters from home or upgrade outbuildings to meet FireSmart guidelines
8	Trees	Replace (with deciduous) or remove coniferous (evergreen) species
9	Surface vegetation and combustible materials	Cut and maintain grass to less than 10 cm or shorter Replace flammable - continuous or tall growing plants with low flammability, low growing, discontinuous plants Remove branches, logs and needles, leaves and debris accumulations

Yard / Zone 2 (10 to 30 metres from Home) and Zone 3 (30 to 100 metres from Home)

Note: Zone 3 should not be addressed until the building, Non-Combustible Zone, Zone 1 and Zone2 have first been addressed. Consider seeking the guidance of a forest professional with wildland fire knowledge on appropriate management options for Zone3.

10	Trees	Thin coniferous trees or replace with deciduous tree species Remove conifer tree branches within 2 meters of the ground
11	Surface Vegetation	Reduce surface vegetation – long grass and flammable shrubs Reduce accumulations of branches, logs and debris

Application Requirements & Process
Step 1 Download the complete FireSmart grant application package. Step 2 Complete the fillable FireSmart Home Ignition Zone Assessment Scorecard to help identify specific actions that you can take to reduce wildfire risk. Step 3 Take before photos prior to starting your FireSmart project. Ensure that the after photos are taken from the same position. Step 4 Conduct the FireSmart treatment as recommended through your assessment. Refer to the FireSmart Begins at Home and FireSmart Guide to Landscaping manuals found in the Learn More drop down menu. Step 5 Complete the FireSmart Grant Application and FireSmart Assessment Work Hours Form (found in the Grant Application package). Step 6 Submit all documents below by email to wkfr.prevention@westkelownacity.ca REFER TO SAMPLE APPLICATION PACKAGE to help you in completing your application. You must submit the following to be eligible to apply: Completed 2021 FireSmart Grant Application Completed FireSmart Home Ignition Zone Assessment Score Card Photo of project area (before and after photo, same position) Completed FireSmart Work Hours Form Receipts of incurred expenses (if applicable)
Sample Application Package
FireSmart Grant Application FireSmart Home Ignition Zone Assessment Score Card FireSmart Assessment Work Hours Form Example receipt
Learn More
FireSmart Begins at Home Manual FireSmart Guide to Landscaping FireSmart Canada website

Application Requirements & Process

Step 1

Download the complete FireSmart grant application package.

Step 2

Complete the fillable FireSmart Home Ignition Zone Assessment Scorecard to help identify specific actions that you can take to reduce wildfire risk.

Step 3

Take before photos prior to starting your FireSmart project. Ensure that the after photos are taken from the same position.

Step 4

Conduct the FireSmart treatment as recommended through your assessment.
- Refer to the FireSmart Begins at Home and FireSmart Guide to Landscaping manuals found in the Learn More drop down menu.

Step 5

Complete the FireSmart Grant Application and FireSmart Assessment Work Hours Form (found in the Grant Application package).

Step 6

Submit all documents below by email to wkfr.prevention@westkelownacity.ca

REFER TO SAMPLE APPLICATION PACKAGE to help you in completing your application.

You must submit the following to be eligible to apply:

Completed 2021 FireSmart Grant Application

Completed FireSmart Home Ignition Zone Assessment Score Card

Photo of project area (before and after photo, same position)

Completed FireSmart Work Hours Form

Receipts of incurred expenses (if applicable)

Sample Application Package

Learn More