Northeast Sector Firesmart Program

FireSmart logo, Anmore logo, Belcarra logo, Port Coquitlam logo, Coquitlam logo

Wildfire Home Hazard Assessments eligible for grant funding for upgrades and improvements (65+ homeowners) are no longer available.  

Dates

  • September 30, 2022 – Last day for mitigation work to be completed
  • Monday, October 31, 2022 – Last day for evaluation assessment of mitigation work in order to receive the grant funding 

Project Background

The cities of Coquitlam and Port Coquitlam, along with the villages of Anmore and Belcarra received a grant from the B.C.’s FireSmart Economic Recovery Fund to develop a sub-regional approach to wildfire prevention in the northeast sector’s wildland-urban interface (WUI) – where development meets natural areas. 

Between the four communities, an estimated 5,000 properties are located in the wildland-urban interface area and at a greater risk for wildfires.

FireSmart Asked the Experts

After years of devastating wildfires, firefighters and experts from around the world answered one question: “What have we learned?” As it turns out, the homes that survived did something different yet simple. Please take just 2 minutes and watch.

Wildfire Home Hazard Assessments

As part of our wildfire prevention program, in 2021, FireSmart ambassadors  visited neighbourhoods in the WUI areas and providing more than 5,000 homeowners with information to book fire safety assessments. 

The assessment was free and conducted by a local FireSmart Representative. The goal was to assist homeowners to adopt practices to mitigate the negative impacts of wildfire. Financial support was also available to seniors who wanted to make the recommended changes and demonstrate the use of FireSmart principles and initiatives to reduce the risk of wildfire damage to their homes and community.

Assessment Map Area

Wildland Urban Interface

Is your home safe from wildland fires?

A large portion of our communities are considered Wildland/Urban Interface land, meaning that the forest meets the community. As a result, it is important to establish and maintain fire-safe homes and practice fire-safe behaviours within your community.

  • Keep combustible materials at least 1.5m from your home, and piles of firewood at least 10m away.
  • Keep your roof and gutters free of leaves and pine needles, and prune all branches that hang over the roof.
  • Choose fire-safe vegetation, and space it so that there is no continuous line of vegetation leading to your structure.
  • Remove all dead/dry vegetation and trim tree limbs 2-3 meters from the ground.
  • Choose non-combustible roofing, building and landscape materials.
  • Know where the gas, electric and water shut-offs are in your home, and have a wildfire escape plan in place.

Preparing your home ahead of time could be the difference between saving your home or losing it to a wildland fire.  For more information on Wildland/Urban Interface fires, and how you can create a fire-safe home, visit firesmartbc.ca.