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The Regional District of Central Kootenay (RDCK) has called for all residents and property owners in the area to participate in an annual wildfire assessment of their properties.
According to Nelson Star, the free-of-charge assessments will be carried out by FireSmart Canada, an initiative by non-profit Partners in Protection.
The wildfire assessment is available to residents across the RDCK, as well as in Creston, Salmo, Kaslo, Nakusp, Nelson, Silverton and Slocan. The program has also been extended to residents in Castlegar.
“Wildfires in the interior of BC and the Kootenays are a fact of life, and fires can spread from forested areas into urban areas - that’s when your home is at risk,” said RDCK wildfire mitigation coordinator and Balfour-Harrop fire chief Nora Hannon.
“A FireSmart assessment will provide a homeowner with mitigation actions to help reduce that risk and a work plan to help them get started,” Hannon added.
The assessments will be performed by wildfire mitigation specialists, who are all fire and forestry experts knowledgeable in wildfire behaviour and science. Eight professionals have been tapped to identify wildfire risks to homes and properties.
Participants in the program will receive a detailed report of the assessment procedure, along with a list of suggested actions they can take to mitigate fire risk. Those who successfully take action to reduce their wildfire risk will be rewarded with a FireSmart certificate following an on-site follow-up inspection of the property.
The FireSmart certificate can be presented to insurers to potentially help reduce rates, Nelson Star reported.
