Camrose Fire Department (CFD) firefighters train and prepare for the upcoming wildfire season. Firefighter Will McPhee practices throwing out a hose line from one of the two bush trucks equipped for fighting wildfires in places harder to reach with the larger fire trucks. 

Preempting the onset of the wildfire season, Alberta Sustainable Resource Development, Parks Canada and Natural Resources Canada/Canadian Forest Service have devised a FireSmart program to assist fire departments and community members in protection against wildfires.
In conjunction with the FireSmart program Camrose Fire Department (CFD) has included extensive training for all CFD firefighters in an effort to ensure the most effective response to any wildfire situation.

“While it may not seem like Camrose is at high risk of a wildfire incident, like we have seen in other municipalities throughout the province that border on heavily forested areas, we do have residential areas that interface with areas of natural vegetation and wildland that can be at risk should a wildfire occur,” noted CFD Fire and Life Safety Educator Captain Jeff Knopf. “CFD also responds to wildland fires in the county, so training for our members is imperative.”

In any of these cases, wildfires have the potential to not only burn acres of natural land and habitat but pose a threat to residences, businesses and private property, especially those adjacent to wildlands.

“Part of the FireSmart program entails educating residents on preventative measures they can take to reduce the risk of property loss or damage should a wildfire occur,” said Knopf. “The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) provides methods for homeowners in preparing their homes to withstand ember attacks and minimize the likelihood of flames or surface fire impacting homes, attachments or other structures on the property.”

Prevention begins by understanding the Home Ignition Zone (HIZ) which is further broken down into three zones, the immediate, intermediate and the extended zones.

The NFPA provided the following tips for prevention in each zone.

Immediate Zone (home and area 0-5 feet from furthest attached exterior point of the home defined as non-combustible area):

• Clean roofs and gutters of dead leaves, debris and pine needles that could catch embers.
• Replace or repair any loose or missing shingles or roof tiles to prevent ember penetration.
• Reduce embers that could pass through vents in the eaves by installing 1/8 inch metal mesh screening.
• Clean debris from exterior attic vents and install 1/8 inch metal mesh screening to reduce embers.
• Repair or replace damaged or loose window screens and any broken windows.
• Screen or box in areas below patios and decks with wire mesh to prevent debris and combustible materials from accumulating.
• Move any flammable material away from wall exteriors–mulch, flammable plants, leaves and needles, firewood piles–anything that can burn.
• Remove anything stored underneath decks or porches.

Intermediate Zone (5-30 feet from the furthest exterior point of the home):

• Clear vegetation from under large stationary propane tanks.
• Create fuel breaks with driveways, walkways/paths, patios, and decks.
• Keep lawns and native grasses mowed to a height of four inches.
• Remove ladder fuels (vegetation under trees) so a surface fire cannot reach the crowns. Prune trees up to six to ten feet from the ground; for shorter trees do not exceed one-third of the overall tree height.
• Space trees to have a minimum of 18 feet between crowns with the distance increasing with the percentage of slope.
• Tree placement should be planned to ensure the mature canopy is no closer than ten feet to the edge of the structure.
• Trees and shrubs in this zone should be limited to small clusters of a few each to break up the continuity of the vegetation across the landscape.

Extended Zone (30-100 feet, out to 200 feet):

• Dispose of heavy accumulations of ground litter/debris.
• Remove dead plant and tree material.
• Remove small conifers growing between mature trees.
• Remove vegetation adjacent to storage sheds or other outbuildings within this area.
• Trees 30 to 60 feet from the home should have at least 12 feet between canopy tops.
• Trees 60 to 100 feet from the home should have at least six feet between the canopy tops.

For more details visit https://www.alberta.ca/firesmart.

“Our goal is to not only provide the communities we serve with the firefighters who have the highest standards of training for any emergent situation, including wildfires, but to help educate the public on what they can do to reduce risk and remain fire smart,” said Knopf.

Camrose Fire Department is offering, for purchase, exterior fire sprinklers that can be installed on the roofs and eaves of homes to help fireproof the home in the event of wildfire threat.

Contact CFD at 780-672-2906 for further details.