Protecting your community starts with you!
Being proactive in making your home, property and neighbourhood FireSmart will help increase your home’s resiliency when wildfires approach.
Our goal at the RDCO is to bring FireSmart education and awareness to stakeholders, property owners, and neighbourhoods developed in the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) setting.
Request a free home/property hazard assessment
Property owners in the Central Okanagan East and Central Okanagan West electoral areas are eligible for a free FireSmart assessment.
The RDCO is a recognized FireSmartBC Home Partners program. You can apply online through the program for an assessment of your property by the RDCO FireSmart coordinator. Once you’ve submitted your application our FireSmart Coordinator will get in contact with you to set a time for an appointment. You will be provided with a detailed inspection and assessment report and follow up steps needed to FireSmart your home and property.
You may also schedule your assessment by emailing firesmart@rdco.com
FireSmart Rebate program
By completing your FireSmart assessment recommendations, you may be eligible for a rebate of up to $500 and through the FireSmartBC Home Partners program you may receive a mitigation certificate.
FireSmart program rebate qualifications
- Schedule a FireSmart home assessment with our FireSmart Coordinator who will answer your questions and provide you with a list of specific recommendations for your property.
- Complete one or more of the recommendations and take before and after photos to show your FireSmart activities.
- Complete a FireSmart rebate form provided during your property assessment. Include receipts for supplies, a record of your hours along with before and after photos. Email all documentation to firesmart@rdco.com.
- Your supplies/labour are valued at approximately $29 per hour for each eligible FireSmart activity you complete. A limited number of rebates are available and are limited to 50% of the total cost up to a maximum of $500.
- Through the FireSmart Home Partners program, you may be eligible for a mitigation certificate.
Eligible FireSmart practices
These are some of the possible FireSmart disciplines that may be used to apply for a program rebate. Your property assessment will provide recommended actions.
- Create an immediate zone 0 – 1.5 metres around the entire home
- Follow the immediate zone by creating Intermediate and Extended zones
- Trim ladder fuels such as branches up to 2 metres off the ground
- Clean debris away from your house, off your roof, and out of your gutters
- Install 3m meshing in fire resistive vents (except for dryer vent)
- Seal cracks and areas such as decks and patios where embers might reach