With wildfire season approaching, the Kelowna Fire Department is urging local residents to take preventative steps now to keep their homes safe.
Captain Jason Twamley, one of Kelowna香蕉视频直播檚 fire mitigation specialists, said it used to be hard to get people to focus on protecting their homes from wildfires.
香蕉视频直播淚t was really hard to get people's attention and get them on board with the program," said Twamley. 香蕉视频直播淭hen along comes a disaster close to home and it really opened people's eyes.香蕉视频直播�
Kelowna Fire Inspector Sylas Rossi stressed the importance of proactive measures.
香蕉视频直播淵ou can ... get someone to come out to your house and do an assessment to identify dangers [like] stacking wood under your deck, having gutters filled with needles, or cedar hedges," said Rossi.
Twamley emphasized that prevention doesn香蕉视频直播檛 mean stripping the city of greenery but making smarter choices.
香蕉视频直播淲e can use other plants to get the same privacy without the danger,香蕉视频直播� he said, noting that cedar hedges remain a major hazard. 香蕉视频直播淭he first 1.5 meters around your home is one of the most important zones. Eliminate combustibles there, and you香蕉视频直播檙e 80 per cent ahead of most people.香蕉视频直播�
Dave Brown lives in Magic Estates, a neighbourhood in the Glenmore area of Kelowna. He's seen firsthand how recent fires have spurred people into action.
香蕉视频直播淒uring the fires, a lot of people here had cedar roofs treated with petroleum products. It香蕉视频直播檚 like they are inviting fires,香蕉视频直播� said Brown. 香蕉视频直播淪ince the last fire, almost everyone with a cedar roof here in Magic Estates had their roof redone.香蕉视频直播�
Kelowna fire department has appointed Dennis Craig as the chief of prevention and mitigation. Craig brings experience to the role, most notably from his tenure as fire chief in Peachland, where he spearheaded a fire-safe program.
One of the program香蕉视频直播檚 initiatives was a ban on the sale of cedar hedges, a highly flammable landscaping choice that has been linked to the rapid spread of fires.
Twamley doesn't see this happening in Kelowna any time soon.
香蕉视频直播淚nstead of putting in a bylaw and making it a rule and punishing people, we're really trying to go the educational route and inform them of the dangers,香蕉视频直播� said Twamley. "Hopefully they'll come to the realization that maybe there's something else they could plant instead.香蕉视频直播�
Despite progress, challenges persist, particularly with new developments. 香蕉视频直播淭he biggest problem we have with developers is their landscaping,香蕉视频直播� Twamley said. 香蕉视频直播淭hey香蕉视频直播檒l put up fire-smart homes. ... with cedars right in front.香蕉视频直播�
One of the upcoming initiatives in Kelowna is the chipping program, which begins accepting registrations on April 9, with pickups starting May 5. The program helps homeowners safely dispose of hazardous vegetation that could fuel wildfires, particularly coniferous plants like cedar hedges that have been linked to rapid fire spread in past incidents.
Even though there is still work to be done, Twamley is heartened by the interest that the community has been taking in fire safety.
香蕉视频直播淚t's just great to see the buy-in [with] more and more ... neighbourhoods wanting to take control of their surroundings," he said. "I'm really encouraged by it and looking forward to carrying on the work.香蕉视频直播�
Although these precautions can be costly and time-consuming, success stories prove mitigation works. When flames neared the Wilden neighborhood in 2023, preemptive efforts saved homes.
香蕉视频直播淭he owners spent a ton of time and money mitigating that property, and it really showed. ... We didn香蕉视频直播檛 lose a structure,香蕉视频直播� Twamley said.
Residents are encouraged to act now by registering for the chipping program, requesting FireSmart assessments, and clearing flammable materials from their properties.
How to prepare
Fire safety tips around the home
Following these fire safe tips can help stop the spread of wildfire and prevent fire damage to your home.
香蕉视频直播� Maintain a 10-metre buffer zone around your home by removing dry leaves, dead vegetation, and flammable debris.
香蕉视频直播� Trim trees, shrubs and clean underneath your deck, preventing anything flammable from being directly next to your home.
香蕉视频直播� Incorporate xeriscaping techniques into your yard to reduce the need for irrigation and limit flammable materials. Xeriscaping is a landscaping practice that aims to minimize the need for water by planting drought tolerant plant species.
香蕉视频直播� Understand how flammable your roof is and if it needs to be replaced. Your roof is the most vulnerable part of your home. Dead pine needles can act as fuel for fires. Be sure to regularly clean your roof and gutters to prevent build up.
香蕉视频直播� Install a spark arrestor on the chimney to prevent sparks from igniting debris on the roof
香蕉视频直播� When building or renovating, choose fire-resistant roofing, siding, and landscaping materials to protect your property. Install fire-resistant windows and ensure doors are fire-rated and have a proper seal.
香蕉视频直播� If you spot a fire, call emergency services right away. Early detection can prevent small fires from becoming catastrophic.
This story was written by a student in as part of a partnership between KPU and Black Press Media.
