The Summerland Fire Department is applying a fire retardant to some utility poles in high-risk areas of the municipality.
Crews have also been cutting down tall grasses and brushing out overgrowth in some rural areas, in an effort to reduce the risk of wildfires in Summerland.
Deputy fire chief Pat Hawkes said the fire department has been using Phos-Check LC95, a long-term fire retardant. The community is the first in British Columbia and one of the first in Canada to use this treatment.
Once the grasses and brush have been cleared, the fire retardant is applied to a height of 2.4 metres.
Hawkes said this treatment will help protect the utility poles 香蕉视频直播� and the utility services 香蕉视频直播� in the event of a wildfire.
香蕉视频直播淓ven if a fire was to move into that area, the utility poles will be OK,香蕉视频直播� he said.
The treatment is similar to the fire retardant that was sprayed during the Peachland wildfire earlier this summer.
Hawkes expects numerous fire departments will soon use this method as part of their fire prevention efforts.
Earlier this year, the municipality applied for a $600,000 grant through the Union of B.C. Municipalities Community Resiliency Investment Program.
The municipality also committed to provide overall grant management for the 2025 FireSmart Community Funding and Support.
Because this treatment for utility poles is a new method, the manufacturer has given additional product to the Summerland Fire Department.
Hawkes said the fire retardant is expected to protect utility poles for at least one fire season. He said crews will likely treat the poles each year in spring, to prepare for the wildfire season.
Summerland has been affected with wildfire activity.
In early August, a fire, believed to have been started by lightning, was discovered near Summerland. Another fire, also believed to have been started by fire, was discovered near the Summerland Rodeo Grounds.
In 2024, a wildfire in the Garnet Valley area came close to a house.
In 1996, a fire in Giant香蕉视频直播檚 Head Mountain Park came within metres of homes and property lines nearby.
The Summerland Fire Department has taken other measures to reduce the risk of wildfires. At times, the access road to Giant香蕉视频直播檚 Head Mountain Park has been closed to vehicle traffic as a way to reduce the risk of wildfires in the area.
