FireSmart

FireSmart™ Sparwood

Sparwood is a community surrounded by forested landscapes, which means living with the risk of wildfires is a reality we all share. To build on the District and the Province’s ongoing wildfire risk reduction efforts on nearby forest lands, the District of Sparwood is proud to fully support the FireSmart BC program.

Wildfire prevention and preparedness is a shared responsibility. We encourage all Sparwood residents and property owners to join us in taking steps to help safeguard our homes, neighbourhoods, and community.

There are seven key FireSmart principles that contribute to a community’s wildfire resilience:

  1. Education
  2. Vegetation Management
  3. Emergency Planning
  4. Cross-training
  5. Interagency Cooperation
  6. Legislation and Planning
  7. Development Considerations

For residents and property owners, the most direct impact often comes through education, vegetation management, and development considerations. The District of Sparwood now has dedicated resources to help our community members take action in these areas.

Our FireSmart Coordinator Paul Grismer, is here to encourage and assist residents in reducing wildfire risks. Certified as a Wildfire Mitigation Specialist Paul can also guide your neighbourhood through the process of becoming recognized under the FireSmart Canada Neighbourhood Recognition Program — a program designed to support neighbours working together to lower their collective wildfire risk.

If you’re interested in becoming a FireSmart Neighbourhood Champion, or simply want to learn more about FireSmart in Sparwood, please reach out. You can contact us at the Sparwood Fire Hall by calling 250-425-0558, or by emailing firesmart@sparwood.ca.

Together, we can build a safer, more resilient Sparwood.

Mayor, David Wilks
Fire Chief, Sheldon Tennant

Who is FireSmart™ BC?

FireSmart is a valuable resource when preparing for wildfire season. From simple tips for homeowners looking to protect their property to community programs led by local experts, everything you need to protect and prepare your home, neighbourhood, or municipality during wildfire season can be addressed by FireSmart principles.

FireSmart™ BC Home Assessment

By taking action and creating a FireSmart property, you will dramatically increase the resistance of your home and property to damage caused by wildfire. The best part is, it's surprisingly easy to do. The actions recommended in this manual start from the home, and progress outward. Changes made to the area closest to your home, and your home itself, have the greatest potential to reduce the risk of wildfire damage.

FireSmart BC Home Assessment 

FireSmart BC Begins At Home. 

Landscaping & Development

Preparing for wildfire doesn’t mean removing all the trees

To make your property FireSmart while also enjoying a vegetated landscape is possible. The type and species, the position relative to your house and the density of plants and trees simply need to be considered.

Some vegetation is more prone to combustion, and one typical example that we find in abundance here are the highly flammable Juniper trees. Replacing them with fire-resistant plants or trees is a great way to address this threat. For that purpose, the FireSmart BC Landscaping Guide is a great resource adapted to the ecosystems we find in our province.

To have vegetation at a safe position and density relative to your home, refer to the FireSmart Beings At Home Guide. There, you will find information on identifying and dealing with the excess vegetation around your home.

Plant Guide

Lawn Tips

Hedges, Privacy, Screening

FireSmart™ Resources and Videos

There is a free FireSmart 101 course

FireSmart Canada has developed a free one-hour course for those getting started with FireSmart and wanting to learn more.

How do wildfires impact structures?

At the Fort Providence Wildfire Experimental Site, 14 tiny home structures—built with a mix of FireSmart and non-FireSmart materials—were put to the ultimate test in real-world wildfire conditions.

This groundbreaking project was performed in collaboration with wildfire experts and government organizations, revealing critical insights about protecting homes and communities.

Watch the following video to see this research in action and learn how FireSmart principles make a significant difference.

90% of homes burned from wildfires are ignited by sparks or embers

Embers are burning pieces of airborne wood and vegetation that can be carried through the wind for more than two kilometres. They can cause spot fires and ignite homes, debris and other objects.

Watch the effect of embers on a home that is not prepared for a wildfire with this simulation:

Karl Peterson talks about FireSmart and his home, and what his neighbourhood of Deer Ridge has done to protect themselves from wildfire.

Greg Straiten talks about how taking a FireSmart approach to construction ended up saving his home.

Pat Crook of Mackenzie, BC, talks about his experience with FireSmart workshops, and implementing its practices.