Lessons learned from the High Level fire can help Whitecourt mitigate its fire risk

On May 20, High Level and surrounding communities were placed on a mandatory evacuation due to an out-of-control wildfire burning roughly three kilometres south of the community. Over the following two weeks, firefighters from around the province, including Whitecourt, provided aid to the local department. Upon arrival, Whitecourt Fire Chief Brian Wynn said that he and his crew were first tasked with setting up sprinklers to help protect the perimeter of High Level. Their second priority was to join efforts and set sprinklers up for the large senior’s centre under construction.

“Once those were completed, we oversaw protecting a certain area of High Level. We went around and triaged the homes for survivability for wildland fire embers coming in. We also did some initial Firesmart work. If there was something that we could do in say fifteen minutes, then we would quickly do it.” Triaging homes in a wildfire situation is no different than triage for people in a mass casualty event.

“Green ribbon means the house is good and blue means there is a sprinkler system set up and ready to go. Yellow ribbon means there is some work to do, and if the home is going to be a loss then we just put a big caution tape up which tells any responders to protect the neighbours instead because the house is going to burn,” he explained. “You have to pick what’s going to survive and what will not so that you don’t waste your time and limited resources.” Residents might not like the idea of department personnel leaving their home to burn, but that’s just how it works. “If you don’t want a caution ribbon in front of your home and for us to let your home go, then do what you can do protect your property.”

One of the properties in High Level that was marked as a loss had 12 pallets stacked up against their house with a tree growing up through the pile. Thankfully for the homeowner, that choice didn’t end up costing them their home. Next time, they may not be so lucky. As the firefighters walked from house to house, mapping out problem areas and sprinklers, they also moved certain items away from the homes. “What are patio cushions made from? Petroleum-based products. That’s fuel right up against your house,” said Chief Wynn.

Aside from removing cushions or furniture from decks, they removed propane tanks, pallets or debris. “Basically, if we could remove fuel from the five-foot perimeter around the house, then we did that. We would set the items in the middle of the yard or on the driveway.” If they came across fenced-in yards, especially wooden ones, they opened the gates and tied them to remain that way. If they were locked, they cut the locks. “A fence can be a fuel wick with the fire burning along the fence all the way to the house, so by opening the gates, we stop that from happening. That also allows for crews that are driving around to see back into the yard.”

The High Level fire experience has Chief Wynn more determined than ever to get residents in Whitecourt to jump onboard with FireSmart. “Everybody might think we are doing a lot already, but we are nowhere near where we need to be.” Accessing the information for FireSmart is even easier now, thanks to the launch of a new app. “Firesmart Canada is releasing the new FireSmart Homeowners Assessment app, and it’s free,” he said.

Not only will you mitigate your risks of losing your home to a fire, but you might even save on your insurance. “Once you download the app, go through it and see if there are things you can do at your home. Once you have completed your own home assessment and have done some work, give us a call. We will come to your home and do an official assessment with you. The higher your assessment than the better your reduction could be.” Assessments are open to both residents of Whitecourt and Woodlands County. 

The last thing that anyone wants is for residents to get complacent. Whitecourt experienced a very wet summer and didn’t have the fire scares like in previous years, but the risk for a wildfire event is still just as strong. “We’re happy for the rain, but we may not have that next year. We are in the wildland urban-interface, so we are at risk. We must accept that and do what we can to mitigate our risk. If you wait until they hit the evacuation button to look at the risks in your own yard, then it is going to be too late. At that point, your mind is going to be thinking about what to gather from the house and getting out as fast as you can.”

Expecting firefighters to fix things up for you while you evacuate isn’t smart either. “We can’t be expected to do that. We were just lucky to have time to do some of those things when we were in High Level,” said Chief Wynn. The official app is called FireSmart and is from FireSmart Canada. Residents can also use the website www.firesmartcanada.ca.