Protect your home from wildfire and request a grant through the 2022 FireSmart program

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Wednesday, May 11, 2022

Grants of up to $500 are available, on a first-come, first-serve basis, to City of West Kelowna and Westbank First Nation property owners who take steps to protect their homes from wildfire using FireSmart principles.

“FireSmart properties and neighbourhoods enable firefighters to deploy more of their resources directly towards wildfire response, which ultimately saves lives and homes,” says West Kelowna Fire Rescue Chief Jason Brolund. “Actions that Westside residents take within 10 metres of their homes will have the biggest impacts in reducing the threat of wildfire.”

FireSmart solutions, supported by City grant funding, help homeowners eliminate hazards.

“We see many situations where quickly ignitable pine limbs should be pruned away to keep needles from dropping on cedar shake roofs, or where a tree should be removed entirely to create a fire break between a home and nearby forest,” says Brolund. “Homeowners are also often unaware of fire hazards from cedar hedges. Although beautiful, and green on the outside, they are dry, dead and extremely combustible on the inside.”

Residents can apply online now for grants to help recover the costs of taking FireSmart actions by following these simple steps:

• Download, print and complete a free, self-directed assessment at westkelownacity.ca/firesmart
• Take photos before, conduct the eligible FireSmart work and take photos after
• Complete your grant application, including photos and receipts, and submit to West Kelowna Fire Rescue at firesmart@westkelownacity.ca or call 778-797-3200 for assistance

FireSmart actions include:

• Installing non-combustible roofing and siding
• Cleaning eaves and installing gutter guards
• Keeping needles raked, moving bark mulch from around the house, keeping grass cut to less than 10 centimetres and properly pruning or removing hedges, shrubs and trees away from your house
• Moving firewood, fuel and propane tanks and other combustible materials 10 to 30 metres from your home

The FireSmart campaign is one of several initiatives that will help achieve West Kelowna Council’s 2022 Strategic Priorities objectives under the Foster Safety and Well-Being pillar, which include ongoing wildfire prevention, mitigation and adaptation measures.