FireSmart Program

What is FIRESMART?

Wildfire is a risk that all British Columbians need to be prepared for. While it seems like a daunting task, FireSmart is here to help you get started and recommend proven steps toward protecting your home and our community from wildfire.

We put the power of prevention in your hands. At FireSmart we offer countless resources that enable you to take steps now that can save your home later if a wildfire emergency hits close to home.

We think of the Lower Mainland as lower risk for wildfires, but we are due for a large wildfire and have had them in the past.  With the large number of residential units that are located at the edge of our forested areas, we have a significant ‘forest interface’ in the region. All of the communities north of the Fraser River have neighbourhoods that meet significant forested areas that are part of the mountains we love.  it’s not a matter of if, but a matter of when a lightning strike or human caused fire will impact our urban/forest interface. With climate change we are seeing a large change in wildfire frequency and behaviour in all areas of B.C.

If you live in the high-risk Wildfire areas of Maple Ridge, with proper FireSmart practices you can improve your odds of your house surviving by up to 90%. Most of these changes only require a bit of effort and not a large financial investment.

Maple Ridge has recently hired a FireSmart Coordinator, through a grant application’ and they are prepared to work with our community to help citizens of Maple Ridge become more aware of fire risks in the forest interface and be better prepared for fires. We are also looking to find FireSmart Champions in Maple Ridge neighbourhoods to help the FireSmart Coordinator implement these programs.