What is FireSmart?
FireSmart™ is about living with and proactively managing wildfire risks in your area and on your property. Building wildfire resilience is a shared responsibility across BC. The FireSmart program, guided by seven key disciplines, applies to all levels—from individual homeowners to broader landscape and land management efforts. Research has consistently shown that FireSmart principles effectively reduce risks to life and property, even in extreme wildfire conditions. Supported by extensive field studies, laboratory research, and wildfire modeling, FireSmart methods help minimize the risk of losses, even under the most severe fire scenarios.
Wildfire threat reduction efforts are not intended to eliminate all fires, as this is neither realistic nor achievable. Instead, the goal is to:
Use forest fuel management techniques to modify wildfire behavior in forested areas near developments, significantly reducing the risk of house and structure losses.
Ensure safe access for wildland fire crews, allowing them to control wildfires more efficiently and effectively.
Promote the construction and maintenance of homes designed to withstand wildfires.
Upcoming Events
Incandescence Screening
Join us for a special screening of Incandescence, a documentary by Nova Ami & Velcrow Ripper, exploring the devastating impact and renewal brought by wildfires.
Featuring footage from the White Rock Lake Fire (2021) and McDougall Creek Fire (2023), this immersive film reveals extraordinary stories of survival, adaptation, and the path to a more fire-resilient future.
Friday, March 14, 2025
7:00 PM
Centennial Hall, Armstrong, BC (3351 Park Dr.)
Incandescence Screening
Join us for a special screening of Incandescence, a documentary by Nova Ami & Velcrow Ripper, exploring the devastating impact and renewal brought by wildfires.
Featuring footage from the White Rock Lake Fire (2021) and McDougall Creek Fire (2023), this immersive film reveals extraordinary stories of survival, adaptation, and the path to a more fire-resilient future.
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Friday, March 14, 2025
7:00 PM
Centennial Hall, Armstrong, BC (3351 Park Dr.)
The “Get FireSmart” Podcast is a place to hear powerful stories and learn valuable lessons from FireSmart leaders across the world.
The bi-weekly episodes will highlight the unique and insightful range of experts that make up the world of wildfire prevention and FireSmart. Ranging from 30 to 60-minutes per episode, the podcasts will explore a variety of topics, ranging from practical tips around the home to the fascinating science behind wildfire prevention and mitigation.
The “Get FireSmart” Podcast is a place to hear powerful stories and learn valuable lessons from FireSmart leaders across the world.
The bi-weekly episodes will highlight the unique and insightful range of experts that make up the world of wildfire prevention and FireSmart. Ranging from 30 to 60-minutes per episode, the podcasts will explore a variety of topics, ranging from practical tips around the home to the fascinating science behind wildfire prevention and mitigation.
Introducing
FireSmart to your home and Neighborhood
Introducing
FireSmart to your home and Neighborhood
Home Ignition Zone (HIZ) Self Assessment
Use this Self-Assessment as a starting point to finding out how resilient your home and property is to wildland fire. Click the link below to complete the Home Ignition Zone (HIZ) Self Assessment.
Home Ignition Zone (HIZ) Self Assessment
Use this Self-Assessment as a starting point to finding out how resilient your home and property is to wildland fire. Click the link below to complete the Home Ignition Zone (HIZ) Self Assessment.
FireSmart Assessment of your Property
Click the link below to complete the FireSmart Home Partners Property Assessment Application Form.
FireSmart Preparedness
Take the steps needed to FireSmart your home and community today! You can dramatically decrease the risk of wildfire damaging your home. It is surprisingly easy to do!
Start with the roof and work down and away from the home…
- Remove leaves and debris in your gutters and roofs.
- Add non-combustible 3 mm screens to external vents (except the dryer vent)
- Keep grass and weeds below 10 cm.
- Remove flammable vegetation and mulch, (especially cedars, junipers and pine) from the first 1.5 meters (4.9 ft) perimeter around your home and shed.
- Prune trees to create a 2 meter clearance from the ground to the lowest branches.
- Move firewood and lumber 10-30 meters away from the home or put your firewood in a completely enclosed space with screening to keep out embers.
- Closeup your soffits and under your deck with 3mm screening to keep embers out.
- Clean up debris and leaves around the perimeter of the home.
- If there is a fire, make sure you clear off your deck and put furniture away inside or away from the home.
FireSmart Preparedness
Take the steps needed to FireSmart your home and community today! You can dramatically decrease the risk of wildfire damaging your home. It is surprisingly easy to do!
Start with the roof and work down and away from the home…
- Remove leaves and debris in your gutters and roofs.
- Add non-combustible 3 mm screens to external vents (except the dryer vent)
- Keep grass and weeds below 10 cm.
- Remove flammable vegetation and mulch, (especially cedars, junipers and pine) from the first 1.5 meters (4.9 ft) perimeter around your home and shed.
- Prune trees to create a 2 meter clearance from the ground to the lowest branches.
- Move firewood and lumber 10-30 meters away from the home or put your firewood in a completely enclosed space with screening to keep out embers.
- Closeup your soffits and under your deck with 3mm screening to keep embers out.
- Clean up debris and leaves around the perimeter of the home.
- If there is a fire, make sure you clear off your deck and put furniture away inside or away from the home.
FireSmart Links and Resources
FireSmart Mobile App
The homes that are prepared are the homes left standing. Thankfully, there are simple steps you can take to drastically reduce your property’s risk.
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The FireSmart®️ Begins at Home app’s primary purpose is to engage homeowners in voluntary wildfire mitigation activities by offering a self-conducted home assessment. This app guides homeowners through a series of questions about their property to help identify specific actions you can take on your property to reduce wildfire risks.
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To learn more about FireSmart initiatives across Canada, check out Fire Smart C​a​n​a​d​a​
FireSmart 101 Course
More so than ever before Canadians are feeling the direct and indirect impacts of wildfire. There is a growing interest and need for FireSmart across the nation. FireSmart has put together a short course for those who are just getting started with FireSmart in their community and want to learn more.
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FireSmart 101 will provide an introduction to FireSmart and review:
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- The Need
- Wildland Urban Interface
- Seven FireSmart Disciplines
- Home Ignition Zone; and
- Empowering the public
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Click the link below to get started!
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