FireSmart program

Protecting your community starts with you

Making your home, property and neighbourhood FireSmart can help reduce wildfire risk and improve your property's resilience when wildfire occur.

Good practices homeowners can take

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

Resources

About the FireSmart program

The Regional District of Central Okanagan (RDCO) FireSmart program provides education, assessments and community outreach opportunities for residents in the Central Okanagan East and West electoral areas. The RDCO FireSmart program relies on provincial funding through the Province of B.C.'s Community Resiliency Investment (CRI) program that helps communities reduce wildfire risk and improve preparedness.

Because the program is supported by grant funding, the number of property assessments, rebates and community initiatives available each year is limited and subject to available funding.

With a waitlist already in place from the previous funding period completing and new funding still pending, it is anticipated that the FireSmart home and property assessments that provide recommendations to help reduce wildfire risk around their homes and properties will quickly become oversubscribed.

FireSmart home/property hazard assessment requests and waitlist

Assessment capacity is limited.
Demand for assessments currently exceeds available resources.
Requests are processed on a first come, first served basis.
Residents wishing to join the assessment waitlist can email firesmart@rdco.com.

Due to demand, staff are addressing current assessment requests from homeowners on a first come-first served basis. Property owners in the Central Okanagan East and Central Okanagan West electoral areas may express interest to be included on the waitlist for a hazard assessment by emailing firesmart@rdco.com.

These hazard assessments provide residents with recommendations to help reduce wildfire risk around their homes and properties

What to expect

Staff will contact residents when an assessment appointment becomes available.

Residents who receive an assessment will be provided with recommendations and guidance to help make their property more FireSmart.

Upcoming FireSmart events

FireSmart staff attend community events throughout the year to share information about wildfire preparedness and FireSmart principles.

Dates to be announced

FireSmart community offsite disposal events

Offsite disposal events help residents dispose of eligible vegetation and yard waste generated through FireSmart activities.

Coming soon. Dates, locations and material acceptance requirements will be posted as they become available.

Who can I contact for more information?

For questions about FireSmart assessments, rebates, events or educational resources, contact firesmart@rdco.com.

FireSmart rebate

Residents who complete eligible FireSmart activities may be able to apply for a rebate, subject to program requirements and available funding. The current program offers rebates of up to 50 per cent of eligible costs, to a maximum of $1,000.

Important information:

Rebate funding is limited.
Applying for a rebate does not guarantee funding.
Rebates are approved based on program eligibility and available funds.
Applications received on a first-come-first-serve basis will be accepted until funding has been fully allocated.

By completing your FireSmart assessment recommendations, you may be eligible for a rebates, funding and loan options.

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 $1,000.
Through the FireSmart Home Partners program, you may be eligible for a mitigation certificate.