Fire Smart Salmo

Village of Salmo

The Village of Salmo is encouraging residents to do their part to minimize the risk of wildfire to their home and neighbourhood by becoming FireSmart communities within the Salmo Fire Protection Area.

This summer, the RDCK’s Wildfire Mitigation Team is again providing FREE Home Assessments through their Home Partners program. This program is designed to support property owners in order keep the region’s at-risk communities resilient to Wildfire.

Taking appropriate mitigation actions to the built fuels of your home, as well as the immediate vegetation surrounding them, is the single most important factor in a home surviving a wildfire of any size or magnitude. This has been proven by numerous studies and confirmed/tested regularly by catastrophic wildfires.

For more information or to book an assessment please call 250-352-1539 or go to RDCK.CA/FIRESMART Spread the word to your friends, family and neighbours!

What are the benefits of being a FireSmart Community?

While the benefits can vary, there are a number of positive outcomes experienced by communities that become members of the FireSmart Communities Program. Being “FireSmart”:

Creates defensible space that prevents fires from advancing and endangering homes and lives.
Reduces the probability that wind-driven embers falling far ahead of a wildfire will ignite a fire on or around your home.
Improves property value while reducing risk of loss.
Improves community relationships with local fire staff. Firefighters can concentrate their efforts on fighting wildfires rather than devoting often limited resources to protecting homes – which may ultimately be lost if the fire can’t be contained.
Encourages good neighbours, since the more homes within a community that adopt “FireSmart” practices, the greater the impact on reducing the heat and speed of the fire.
Offers peace of mind, knowing that your home is prepared to survive a wildfire in the event one should occur.

RDCK Fire Services Launches Home Safety Program

March 17, 2021 – Click here to view on the RDCK website

Nelson, BC: The Fire Chiefs Association of British Columbia is supporting 17 Regional District of Central Kootenay (RDCK) Fire Departments in delivering its 2021 Home Safety Program. This program provides free smoke/carbon monoxide alarms and fire safety information for residents, specifically targeting those residents unable to afford alarms. “Smoke alarms are a key part of a home fire escape plan,” said Gord Ihlen, RDCK Fire Prevention Officer. “When there is a fire, smoke spreads fast. Working smoke alarms give you early warning so, you can get outside quickly.“

Starting on March 22, 2021, RDCK Fire Department members will be distributing these smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, along with fire safety information, to homes within their service area. If you or someone you know would benefit from this program, please contact your local Fire Department non-emergency phone number for assistance. Contact information for your local Fire Department can be found here.

Tips to ensure the proper working order of your smoke/carbon monoxide alarm:

Replace the batteries in your smoke/carbon monoxide combination alarm at least one a year or for the extended life of the batteries according to manufacturer’s instructions
Good reminder – when you change your clock for daylight savings, change the batteries in your alarm
Smoke, carbon monoxide and combination alarms should be cleaned at least once every six months, by gently vacuuming the exterior
Smoke/carbon monoxide combination alarms do wear out, and should be replaced at least every ten years
Residents should test their smoke/carbon monoxide combination alarms at least once per month by pushing the test button and listening for the alarm

Sadly, each year there are fire fatalities in Canada; however, having properly operating smoke/carbon monoxide alarms installed throughout your home will help protect you and your loved ones against fires and gas leaks. In addition to maintaining the alarms in your home, the RDCK Fire Service also stresses the importance of developing a home escape plan and practicing it with your family on a monthly basis.

For more information on Fire Safety, residents are encouraged to visit the Office of The Fire Commissioner website HERE.

REMEMBER: “Smoke Detectors and Exit Drill in the Home…A Plan You Can Live With.”

For further information, please contact:
Gord Ihlen – Regional Assistant Fire Chief, Regional District of Central Kootenay
Tel: 250-352-1572 Email: gihlen@rdck.bc.ca

Information Bulletin Board

A Guide to Category 2 Fires
An open fire, excluding a campfire, that burns piled material no larger than two metres high and three metres wide, or grass over an area less than 0.2 hectares (2000 square metres) in size.

A Guide to Category 3 Fires
An open fire that burns material in piles larger than two metres high and three metres wide, windrows, or grass over an larger than 0.2 hectares (2000 square metres) in size.

Open Fire Regulations

Ministry of Environment Fact Sheet

The Ministry of Environment recently developed a fact sheet that outlines the environmental laws that apply to burning in BC.

The attached fact sheet deals with requirements under the Environmental Management Act and emphasizes that anyone burning material also must comply with any local bylaws that exist for fire protection and/or air quality.

Fire Burning Regulation – PDF

FireSmart Guide to Landscaping