FireSmart

The Fire Smart Committee is a sub committee of the Columbia Ridge Community Association. It’s mandate is to work towards a Fire Smart designation for the Community, and educate home owners about best practices for protecting their properties from wildfire.

A Fire Smart cleanup event which was planned for spring 2020 had to be postponed due to the Covid-19 outbreak. The event has been rescheduled to May, 2021. It is suggested that propery owners clean up their properties of all combustible vegetation and trim up to the 2 meter mark on all trees. The primary focus will be to remove combustible vegetation nearest homes and work outwards from there.

A disposal bin will be placed at a central site within the Columbia Ridge Community into which the combustibles can be placed.

Volunteers are being sought for a work committee to help clean up combustible vegetation and trim tree limbs in common community areas such as the playground and beach road, prior to the May/21 long weekend.

Please contact one of the Fire Smart Committee members with any questions or to volunteer.

CRCE Fire Smart Committee Members as of 2020:

Jerry Johner:  johner_j@hotmail.com

Dave Hubbard:  davidanddonna@shaw.ca

Bob Lounsberry:  bob-lounsberry@shaw.ca

Ron Kubik:  rkubik@reion.ca

Pat Silver:  patsilver@shaw.ca

A Wildfire Hazard Assessment was completed on Columbia Ridge Estates earlier this year. Of concern were the wooded hills coming up from the lake and Hardy Creek, as fire could travel uphill into the community. We also urge everyone to consider the wildfire risks with their landscaping and building materials in order to keep the community as safe as possible.