Fire Chief says, “Let’s all be fire smart”

“We’re trying to save your homes and, in turn, we also save the town.”  Those words were spoken by Fire Chief Brian Wynn on Thursday, May 18 at the Forest Interpretive Centre during an open house for hilltop residents whose backyards line Centennial Park. Over the next few months vegetation management will be conducted in those areas, and it’s Wynn’s mission to educate the public on the FireSmart Program.

Leading the open house was Fire Chief Brian Wynn assisted by Deputy Wayne Andrusiak, the FireSmart Crew, Mike Milner, and Justin Amyot (Forestry), Fish & Wildlife biologist Curtis Stambaugh, and representatives from Wide Open Slashing (contractor), Kurt Lambert, and Butch Shenfield.

The plans are to clear up debris, cut branches six feet and lower, and remove certain species of plants and trees which Brian refers to as “fuel” including dead or downed trees. Residents can see exactly how the plan will be executed by taking a jaunt down Dahl Drive and noticing how the tree line on both sides has been cleared. One of the biggest issues lies in the species that are most hazardous in fire situations. “The species that would give off embers… that’s what we are trying to reduce.”

Dense forests surrounding the community is part of the charm of the area, but keeping everyone safe from potential situations like fire is of utmost importance. “Part of our emergency planning is looking at our hazard and Forestry helps us with that. Forestry dug out the fire history from the area then we looked at the number one probable problem areas and those are the areas that we are addressing.” Last year, the hazard was high and the fire down in the valley fed off the dry conditions. “We had the water bombers in town and we had to go back to that fire 13 times,“ said Wynn.

Chief also mentioned that they are controlling a two-kilometre perimeter around the town and looking to grow that to 10 kilometres with help from their forestry partners. “We know from Fort McMurray that by the time the fire gets to two kilometres from town, it’s too late. We need to work with the partners and get them engaged so that as part of their normal operations they can target some of the target species that we consider a hazard to help us mitigate that.”

Residents whose homes back onto Centennial Park are encouraged to chat with the FireSmart Crew as they move throughout the area. “These are the people who we want to have a lot of public interaction with beyond your property of what you would like or would not like them to do. They are there to assist the citizens.”

The crew will also be working along a mountain bike trail that is situated in the park and, as Wynn explains, measures are being taken to disrupt the area as little as possible. “We worked it out with the mountain bike park that within their trail system 30 feet on each side of the path, we are doing everything by hand.”

Since 2014, over 110 hectares have been treated and the plans for 2017 are bigger than previous years, with 89 hectares planned. Thanks in large part to grants, the four-year project will serve as a guideline for other communities and will go a long way in keeping Whitecourt safe. “We’re also looking at a where we can put a sprinkler line for protection before it gets to the residential area and certain areas will also be made mowable (sic).”

The most critical area around your house is the immediate 1.5 metres, called Zone 1A. A non-combustible surface should extend around your home including your deck and it’s as simple as using gravel, brick, or concrete. The next important area is Zone 1 which is from 1.5 to10 metres around your home. A FireSmart yard includes selecting fire-resistant plants, avoiding mulch, moving firewood away from the home, and keeping your eavestroughs clean. If you cut branches or plants, don’t pile them up or dump them as they become potential fuel. The transfer station and the dump are both better choices for getting rid of debris.

If you have any questions or would like to have your property assessed for potential hazards, call Brian Wynn at 780-778-2342. To arm yourself and your family with the information you need to be FireSmart, check out www.firesmartcanada.ca.