FireSmart Your Property

FireSmart: Protect Your Home from Wildfire

Wildfire is a natural part of life in our region—but there’s a lot you can do to reduce your risk. FireSmart is about simple, practical steps you can take to make your home and yard more resistant to wildfire.

This page helps you:

  • Understand wildfire risk around your home

  • Learn what changes make the biggest difference

  • Access resources

Start Close to Home

The first 10 metres around your home matter most.
Windblown embers can ignite decks, dry grass, firewood piles, and more—even if the fire is still far away.

What You Can Do:

  • Keep a 1.5 metre non-combustible zone around your home and deck

  • Regularly clean gutters, roofs, and under decks

  • Choose fire-resistant plants and materials near your home

  • Move firewood piles at least 10 metres away

  • Use gravel mulch instead of bark mulch within 10 metres of your house

Download guides to help you complete a FireSmart yard assessment.

our Yard & Trees

Even a beautiful yard can help stop wildfire if it’s planned right. FireSmart landscaping reduces fuel that helps fire travel.

Tree & Yard Tips:

  • Prune branches 2 metres off the ground

  • Space coniferous trees (like spruce or pine) at least 3 metres apart

  • Avoid highly flammable plants like cedar, juniper, or tall dry grasses near buildings

  • Mow grass regularly and trim back overgrown areas

  • Remove dry needles and branches from under shrubs and trees

Outdoor Fire Safety & Tools

  • Keep basic fire tools (shovel, hose, rake) on hand

  • Burn barrels must have wire mesh screens and be clear of vegetation

  • Fire pits must follow Municipal permit rules

  • Store gas, firewood, and flammable items well away from your home

Larger Properties

If you have a large yard or property:

  • Focus first on the Immediate Zone (0–1.5 m from your home)

  • Then work outward to the Intermediate (1.5–10 m) and Extended Zone (10–30 m)

  • Beyond 30 m, thinning, pruning, and fuel reduction still help reduce wildfire intensity

If your home is on a slope, fire can move uphill faster. That makes spacing and clearing even more important.