Get Firesmart & $ 500 Richer
Photo: City of West Kelowna
Homeowners in the city of West Kelowna and the West Bank First Nation can get up to $ 500 per property when they protect their homes with FireSmart principles and initiatives.
The city and the WFN have allocated $ 30,000 to encourage residential property owners to reduce the risk of forest fire damage to their homes and the community.
“I encourage residents of the city of West Kelowna and the West Bank First Nation to apply for this free grant and use it to protect their homes,” says fire chief Jason Brolund.
Residents can apply for grants online to help cover the cost of these FireSmart improvements. The biggest impact on reducing the risk of forest fires is that action is taken within 10 meters of their homes.
“We see many situations where flammable pine limbs need to be cut off because they drop needles on cedar roofs, or where a tree needs to be completely removed because there is no break on fire between a house and the nearby wooded area,” Brolund said.
“Homeowners are also often unaware of the fire hazards that cedar hedges pose. These beautiful, verdant rows are actually dry, dead, and extremely flammable inside. FireSmart solutions combined with city grants can help homeowners keep these and other hazards safe to solve.”
Actions can include:
- Replacing flammable roofing and siding materials.
- Removing cedar hedges and replacing them with refractory, low-density plants.
- Increase tree spacing, remove limbs, and create defensible space around structures.
