Columbia Ridge Estates is a FireSmart Community
We feel the threat of fires to our community is one which must be taken seriously. The BC Firesmart Website has a wealth of information on fire preparedness and we recommend all community members become familiar with the content. This purpose of this community page is to provide members with the bare essentials of prevention and preparedness.
The highest risk area for homeowners is the zone within 1.5 metres of your home. Most incidents of combustion in this zone are started by embers, which can drift up to 2km from a wildfire. FireSmart recommends elimination or removal of combustible materials within the Immediate Zone. Examples of combustible materials are:
- Trees, especially coniferous, particularly juniper trees and shrubs
- Bark mulch, which is highly flammable
- Flammable door mats, typically sisal. Door cam videos from the Kelowna fires showed that embers landing on door mats caused doors, and subsequently houses, to catch fire.
- Wood piles adjacent to the house are highly flammable and are a frequent cause of house ignition. FireSmart recommends either removing woodpiles 10 metres from the house or maintaining them in fireproof shed
The FireSmart Guide also has recommendations for doors, roofs, windows, siding, gutters, decks and chimneys. It is a good idea to review this information as well as information pertaining to the zones within 30 metres of your home.
Emergency Preparedness
Having an evacuation plan in place is crucial for emergencies like fires, floods, hurricanes, or other disasters. Here is a link to the Firesmart Guide in case of wildfires.
The Basics:
- Keep a Grab and Go bag, including vital documents
- Keep your car at least half full of gas
- Keep potable water on hand, as water may not be available in the event of a power outage
