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Representing Diverse Communities in the Kootenays
Click a link below to jump to more information on one of the FireSmart programs we offer: |
Free FireSmart home assessments |
FireSmart rebate program |
FireSmart Canada Neighbourhood Recognition Program
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RDCK FireSmart Neighbourhood Champion Grant |
Bare Land FireSmart assessment program
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RDCK FireSmart Contractors List |
FireSmart Resource Library |
Home Partners ProgramRuns annually from May to the end of September.
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Schedule a FREE FireSmart home assessment: |
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A Wildfire Mitigation Specialist comes to your home and provides a detailed report including specific mitigation actions to help protect your home from wildfire.
During the assessment, they will discuss wildfire behavior dynamics and the ways a wildfire could affect your home.
Your assessment is PRIVATE and CONFIDENTIAL. The RDCK and FireSmart Canada only share details of the assessment with you.
For more information go to: FIRESMARTHOMEPARTNERS.CA
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Step 1 - Get a free FireSmart home assessment from an RDCK Wildfire Mitigation Specialist by filling out the online application at rdck.ca/firesmart emailing firesmart@rdck.bc.ca or calling 250-352-1539. |
Step 2 – Work with your Wildfire Mitigation Specialist to complete a Rebate Work Plan. This is where you can plan out your FireSmart mitigation actions and have some feedback on how to prioritize your efforts. |
Step 3 - Take action on the recommendations from your FireSmart home assessment. This can be accomplished by yourself, with your neighbours, or using hired help. Use the table on the Rebate Application Form to keep track of both your personal hours as well as any money spent on contractors or materials. |
Step 4 - Submit your rebate application. Please note that rebate applications over $1000 will require a follow up visit from your Wildfire Mitigation Specialist. |
Our FireSmart Rebate Guide can answer many of the questions listed below; |
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FireSmart Canada Neighbourhood Recognition Program |
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What is a FireSmart Recognized Neighbourhood? The FireSmart Canada Neighbourhood Recognition Program is a unique approach to collaboratively reduce a neighbourhood’s risk to wildfire through education and events. It is run nationally through FireSmart Canada and facilitated locally by the RDCK. It is a grassroots, volunteer run program that is assisted by RDCK Wildfire Mitigation Specialists. It is a small scale approach for neighbourhoods consisting of 5-50 homes, with the intent to implement achievable FireSmart goals. https://firesmartbc.ca/firesmart-canada-neighbourhood-recognition-program-fcnrp/ |
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How do I get my neighbourhood recognized? 1) Get in touch with us – The RDCK has a Wildfire Mitigation Specialist near you who can help establish what a FireSmart program in your neighbourhood might look like. 2) Form a FireSmart Committee – A FireSmart Committee consists of 3-5 people living within the neighbourhood. 3) Receive a neighbourhood assessment – This addresses the wildfire-related characteristics of the neighbourhood, providing unique recommendations in the form of a detailed report. 4) Create a FireSmart plan – A written plan for your neighbourhood’s unique approach to FireSmart. 5) Host an event and implement parts of your plan – This generally takes the form of some sort of neighbourhood event or work party. Every neighbourhood is different! See pages 3-8 of this document to be inspired by what other neighbourhoods have done. 6) Apply in the fall – A one page application, completed each fall, informs FireSmart Canada what you did that year. |
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What are some of the benefits?
We’ve seen neighbourhoods drastically reduce their risk to wildfire over the years. Whether it be an area of forest being treated, having more neighbours becoming educated on what they can accomplish around their home, to creating an emergency evacuation plan; year over year, every neighbourhood becomes more resilient in some way. |
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The FireSmart Recognition Program is a great way to get the neighbourhood together to work towards a common goal. Events often have music or food and always include lots of smiles. We’ve seen various community groups, stratas, and Fire Departments use this as a way to engage with residents. |
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We often have the highest concentration of personal home assessments within FireSmart neighbourhoods. Residents can sign up for free FireSmart home assessments where we take a detailed look at individual homes and properties to provide unique recommendations on how to drastically reduce the chance of a home being affected by wildfire. |
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There is some funding available to FireSmart neighbourhoods. FireSmart Canada offers a yearly $500 grant to selected applicants. The RDCK FireSmart Champion Grant has allowed neighbourhoods to apply for up to $3000 in reimbursements for completed FireSmart activities. Some neighbourhoods have even been successful in applying for Columbia Basin Trust grants to have nearby forest fuels treated. |
FireSmart Neighbourhood Champion Grant |
The goal of the FireSmart Neighbourhood Champion Grant is to provide funds in order to help RDCK FireSmart Neighbourhood Champions make their neighbourhoods more resilient against wildfire. |
Any Neighbourhood Champion within the RDCK that has received, or is pursuing, FireSmart Canada neighbourhood recognition program status can apply. |
For more information, please see the Neighbourhood Champion Grant Guidelines or contact us at firesmart@rdck.bc.ca or call 250-352-1539. |
Please submit the following forms with your FireSmart Neighbourhood Champion Grant application: |
Bare Land FireSmart assessment program
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Planning to build? Email firesmart@rdck.bc.ca or call 250-352-1539 to get a free assessment and recommendations before you build. Our normal Home Partners FireSmart assessments are only for properties with fully built homes on them. These bare land assessments will look at fuel type, topography, landscaping considerations, and building material choice to give you some great advice on how to build FireSmart. Please note that these assessments are not eligible for a rebate, a fully built home with a Home Partners assessment is required to access the rebate. |
RDCK FireSmart Contractors List
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The RDCK Contractors List is for the purpose of connecting RDCK residents who have had a FireSmart assessment with qualified contractors capable of completing the recommended FireSmart mitigation work. The RDCK FireSmart Contractors list provides contact details for contractors who have met the application criteria. All contractors on this list have provided us with proof of a current business and attended a RDCK FireSmart Contractors Info Session. Being on this list does not constitute an endorsement or referral by the RDCK. We do not guarantee, certify, insure, or inspect work completed by contractors on this list. Always do your own research prior to hiring any contractor. Please be aware that only mitigation actions outlined on your FireSmart report will be eligible for rebate. |
RDCK FireSmart Contractors List
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In order to apply to be on the list contractors must:
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The content on this page was last updated November 1 2024 at 6:08 AM