PENTICTON – There are several tips and tricks that Fire Smart Canada and the Penticton fire department want you to know about – and dozens of people took the opportunity to learn about them at an information session on Sunday.
“So [we talked about] their yards, their landscaping and the little things that they can change so their structures aren’t so susceptible to ignition,” says executive director of Fire Smart Canada, Kelly Johnston.
As part of the session, Johnston led a tour of Sendero Canyon, a new subdivision in an area that can be threatened by fires. Along the way, they made stops at various homes and look out points to demonstrate how people can improve wildfire safety in their neighbourhoods.
Participants of all ages say they walked away from the session feeling more fire smart.
“[We learned that] the fuel closest to your house, things that we can prevent like barbeques and patio furniture and that sort of thing that you wouldn’t necessarily think about as fuel sources, but it definitely is a concern,” says area resident Allison Marques.
With the help of grant money from the Union of B.C. Municipalities, self-organized groups of residents will be encouraged to take the fire smart lead.
“It gives us a fighting chance to protect the homes when we have a huge fire coming towards them,” says Watkinson.
The Penticton fire department has been busy doing its part. A public trail was recently cleaned up to show that it isn’t a difficult task to take on.
“We limbed up all the trees… nice and high off the ground and all of the pine needles and debris have been removed… we found lighters, cigarette butts, roman candle fireworks… so it was obviously an area that could have ignited,” says Watkinson.
Click here to learn more about how to protect your home from a wildfire.
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