Preparing for Wildland Fire Threats

Local Journalism Initiative
·3 min read

A warmer and drier winter than usual is sparking concerns of a more intense wildfire season in 2024 than in 2023, which was the worst year on record so far. Alberta has already declared the start of wildfire season 10 days earlier than usual, and more than 100 fires continue to burn from last season in British Columbia and Alberta. Locally, One Arrow First Nation has already implemented a fire ban and, as what little snow cover still exists, disappears, more bans will presumably follow. According to the Canadian Journal of Forest Research, roughly 12 percent of Canadians live in areas prone to wildfires.

While most home insurance policies cover wildfire damage, insurance experts say that what most consumers do not think about is the amount of coverage needed for living expenses outside the home while the damage to their property is repaired. As anyone who has experienced a fire can attest, it can take a substantial amount of time to repair damage from a fire. And if there are many claims in an area, local resources could be overtaxed. It is recommended that for people living in an area prone to fires, ensuring that insurance provides adequate coverage to house, feed, and provide mobility for an extended period of time while repairs or a rebuild are being conducted is the wisest thing to do.

Alberta and British Columbia are not alone in experiencing wildland and forest fires, while communities in the northern part of our province are the most often impacted by forest fires, wildland fires can happen anywhere. The Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency’s (SPSA) website has a quick link to check on active emergencies as well as an Emergencies and Response page. The SPSA promotes FireSmart, a program designed to help homeowners prevent and prepare for wildfires. Homeowners can take concrete steps to help deter fires, including:

“FireSmart Begins at Home” is an app available for download that is an assessment tool that will help identify specific actions to take to reduce wildfire risk.

Wildland fires can follow a path from the forest or grassland to your home. Fire travels fastest uphill. A wildland fire moving via the tops of trees can be slowed if the trees are spaced, but sparks and embers may travel distances of up to two kilometres. It can be further slowed by flame-resistant plants and shrubs in your yard. As plants have different flammability, consider spacing plants to increase your home’s ability to withstand a wildland fire. Plants with moist, supple leaves, tight bark and a low amount of water-like sap or resin are most fire-resistant. When it comes to mulch, gravel and decorative crushed rock mulch significantly reduce risks from wildland fires.

Every home should have readily accessible shovels, rakes, axes, garden hoses, sprinklers, and ladders to assist in suppressing wildland fires. Including debris clean-up in spring and fall as part of regular yard maintenance and removing combustible shrubs from the drip line of trees will also help homeowners make their homes and yards more fire resistant. Planting deciduous trees such as poplar, aspen, cottonwood, maple, alder, and ash which are more resistant to fire than coniferous, is another step people can take. Pruning trees of branches within two metre of the ground will help prevent surface fires from moving into the treetops, while still providing shade and also allowing from air movement during hot summer days. Low hanging branches provide an easy passage for a surface fire to climb to the tops of trees where it is harder to fight.

In an emergency, homeowners may need to leave while emergency responders are entering. For this to happen safely, clear vegetation from driveways and remove trees and/or branches that would make it difficult for a fire truck to access the area. If space is adequate have a spot to turn around and if possible, have two access points. For more information, take a look at the programs and resources available online through FireSmart Canada at www.firesmartcanada.ca.

Carol Baldwin, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Wakaw Recorder

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