Make Your Property FireSmart

Take action to reduce the impact of wildfires and make your property more FireSmart.

1. Schedule a FREE FireSmart home assessment.
2. Remove brush, yard waste and tree debris – Besides having a non-combustible roof, this is the most significant immediate step homeowners can take to protect their property. 
3. Follow other FireSmart recommendations below for your current property, new construction and landscaping.
4. Prepare for wildfires.

FireSmart Home Tips

• Whistler FireSmart brochure – general FireSmart recommendations for Whistler 
• FireSmart Homeowner's Manual – detailed FireSmart recommendations for homes and yards; a self-assessment tool; evacuation tips
• FireSmart yard and home tips, Lesser Slave Lake Region – tips for making your yard and home more FireSmart
• Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction Report on why some houses survived the Fort McMurray fire – An overwhelming majority of homes that had a Low or Moderate FireSmart hazard rating survived, while those that were rated High or Extreme did not. The most important act you can do to reduce the combustibility of your home is to ensure your roof is made of non-combustible material. This includes metal, tile, and stone.

Construction 

• FireSmart home development guide – FireSmart construction and renovation recommendations, including roof materials and design; siding, vents and openings; gutters and eaves; decks and porches; fencing and landscaping
• FireSmart combustible siding fact sheet – general recommendations about materials for building siding

Landscaping

• FireSmart landscaping guidelines – recommendations about highly flammable plants to avoid, xeriscaping, and fire-resistant plant

Neighbourhoods

• FireSmart priority zones – an infographic outlining FireSmart priority zones; work with your neighbours to protect your property and neighbourhood

Development and Tree Cutting Permits

In some cases, a Development Permit or Tree Cutting Permit is required before completing work that changes landscaping or removes vegetation or trees.

If your property is in a Development Permit Area, a Development Permit  is required before beginning any development that includes alteration of land, including landscaping or removal of vegetation or trees.

A Tree Cutting Permit must be obtained prior to cutting, topping or limbing any tree that is: