Sprinkler FireSmart protection in the works for west hilltop area

By Ashley Clementovich

A grant of $12,000 has been issued to the Town of Whitecourt from the Forest Resource Improvement Association of Alberta in order to develop a Sprinkler Deployment Plan as a further step in FireSmart safety. The end goal is 140 sprinklers along Centennial path all fed through the hydrant system. These golf-course style sprinklers have a spray pattern covering a 50 ft. radius. Collectively, they will serve as a barrier to any eminent fire spread along the mature forest area bordering the community.

Fire Chief Brian Wynn and Alberta Agriculture and Forestry employee Mike Milner attended the February 26 town council meeting to give an overview of the Plan and answer councillors’ questions.

The idea of the sprinkler system is to utilize it before the fire reaches the area thereby limiting the use of fire trucks and personnel in the vicinity once the threat arrives. “If we can stop the main wall then all we have to do, hopefully, is go around and hot spot,” said Chief Wynn. While wildfire threat is present around the entire town, the west hilltop area was chosen for this project specifically because of the 150 residences situated contiguously to the forest.

Water from eight hydrants will feed the system which will use up to 6,700 liters/minute if fully deployed. A total of $80,000 is required for the inventory needed for the plan. Chief Wynn explained that the system would be implemented in stages as resources become available. They will begin at the Forest Interpretive Centre and proceed to H3, where tests and checks will be performed. From there, they will move on to H4 and continue in succession until reaching H8.

As a part of the Wildland Urban Interface, Whitecourt is exposed and susceptible to wildfires. The clearance of underbrush for FireSmart happens approximately every five years. The public can also help out with fire prevention. “We would encourage everyone to green things up,” said Chief Wynn. In the summer months the town has been mowing along power lines behind Ravine Drive to reduce fire fuel and to make greening up an easier task. Once turned on, the sprinklers only need about 15 to 20 minutes to water the fuel-modified area to be effective.

Both Alberta Agriculture and Forestry and the Whitecourt Fire Department have had input on this project which will be contracted out to Palisades Consulting Ltd. Existing bodies of water, available hydrants, water capacity/availability, as well as fuel volumes and possible fire behaviour have been considered. Once completed, town staff and mutual aid will be able to utilize the sprinkler system. With georeferencing technology on Avenza maps, the system can be downloaded and viewed on mobile devices.