Small changes can have a big impact in saving a home from wildfire, according to Chance Breckenridge, District of Clearwater’s new FireSmart coordinator.
“There’s a lot you can do in a short time that will make a difference,” he said.
He gave as an example a house that burned down during a wildfire after a straw welcome mat on its porch ignited. If that straw mat hadn’t been there, there was a good chance the house would have survived.
Breckenridge made his remarks during an open house held Wednesday evening, Oct. 9, in the Dutch Lake Community Centre.
“The biggest thing is education ... getting public buy-in,” he said.
So far, he has given FireSmart assessments to several dozen local homes, businesses and other buildings. He has worked with Clearwater’s and nearby fire departments, forest companies, Simpcw First Nation, Thompson-Nicola Regional District and Wells Gray Community Forest. He has made presentations at Clearwater Farmers Market and will do them at local schools.
FireSmart has lesson plans for teaching students from Kindergarten to Grade 12. Breckenridge will give the packages to interested teachers and, if asked, help to present them.
He noted in Pemberton, secondary school students receive credits towards graduation for their FireSmart work.
FireSmart B.C. officials are working with people from the insurance industry so that people whose homes receive FireSmart treatments to reduce the risk from wildfire will receive reduced rates on their insurance premiums.
The people of Logan Lake began FireSmarting their community about 20 years ago. Those years of preparation paid off in 2021 when the Tremont Fire otherwise likely would have destroyed much of the town. He recommends watching the documentary “The Test,” which deals with how Logan Lake became Canada's first official FireSmart Community.
The next item on the program was chipping branches and small trees for homeowners who wanted to reduce their wildfire risk. This started on Oct. 15 and continued until Oct. 21.
Breckinridge added, "I plan to do another community chipping event in the spring. People are welcome to call or email me for any FireSmart needs. An assessment, info, and guidance. Our first chipping program went really well and we are looking forward to further assisting mitigation efforts in the community through programs like this in the future."
To contact or speak with the FireSmart coordinator you can reach Chance Breckenridge at: 778 208 0246 or cbreckenridge@docbc.ca
