RDN FireSmart

Emergency Preparedness Week May 5 - 11, 2024

Emergency Preparedness Week is a nationwide event that encourages Canadians to take action to better prepare and protect themselves and their families during emergencies such as wildfires, earthquakes and floods. We should all be ready to take care of ourselves for a minimum of 72 hours. Having a plan helps us be prepared and self-sufficient and allows emergency responders to prioritize assistance where it is most needed. The Regional District of Nanaimo (RDN) invites residents to learn more about emergency preparedness in our region through several resources including downloadable workbooks, handbooks, checklists and links to other emergency preparedness websites.

An important aspect of emergency preparedness is staying informed through verified services and accounts. The RDN encourages residents to sign up for Voyent-Alert, a free emergency notification service that enables subscribers to receive critical event messages through an app, text message, voice call or email. To receive critical emergency alerts, sign up at rdn.bc.ca/voyent-alert. Subscribers can choose to opt in or out of RDN non-emergency alerts as well on topics such as recreation, parks, water services and more. The RDN’s website and social media accounts are also a valuable resource to help you stay informed during an emergency.

Creating an emergency grab and go bag for yourself is an important part of being prepared for an emergency. Regularly check and update your grab and go bag to ensure everything is up to date. To make one, start by finding a sturdy bag that is easy to carry. Below is a list of what could be included in the bag to support you in the first 72 hours of an emergency.

For resources and to learn more about all RDN Emergency Services, visit getinvolved.rdn.ca/nepp, rdn.bc.ca/emergency-services and rdn.bc.ca/emergency-preparedness.

Community Wildfire Preparedness Day May 4, 2024

Also during May is Wildfire Community Preparedness Day. On May 6, residents are encouraged to take actions that increase their home, neighbourhood and community's resilience to wildfire. As the dry season approaches, now is the time to clean up yards and do a FireSmart assessment of your home and property. Being FireSmart is all about living with and managing wildfire risk in your area and on your property. FireSmart principles are effective at reducing risk to life and property in the most extreme wildfire conditions across Canada, including here in the Regional District of Nanaimo (RDN).

A great way to prioritize the FireSmart work around your home is to follow FireSmart Canada’s Home Ignition Zone (HIZ) recommendations. This zone emphasizes the importance of removing or reducing potential ignitions (e.g., highly flammable items such as vegetation, wood chips) in the immediate zone around your home, the most vulnerable area. The HIZ focuses on reducing the chance for flames to spread and places where embers may easily ignite objects or buildings.

Visit getinvolved.rdn.ca/rdn-firesmart and firesmartbc.ca to learn more about the Home Ignition Zone and to access a variety of resources that will help you prepare your home and community for wildfire season.

FireSmart Information Bulletin

Just yesterday the RDN released a new Information Bulletin for builders, developers, and homeowners in the RDN to consider when planning and designing homes in the Wildland Urban Interface.

Following FireSmart principles when developing land, designing homes and structures, and landscaping on properties within the Regional District of Nanaimo (RDN) is an important part of the planning and development process. Developers, builders, contractors and homeowners should review the FireSmart basics and follow FireSmart principles when designing and building in the Wildland Urban Interface in the RDN to mitigate wildfire risk.

Follow the link below to read more!

https://www.rdn.bc.ca/notice-2022-07-18

Community Wildfire Resiliency Plans (CWRP) are the next generation of Community Wildfire Protection Plans (CWPP). The CWPPs were introduced in 2004 as part of the Strategic Wildfire Prevention Initiative and served as the primary wildfire risk reduction planning mechanism for British Columbia communities. To better ensure that CWPPs consistently take a comprehensive approach toward wildfire, including risk reduction and resiliency measures, the BC Wildfire Service (BCWS) partnered with the BC FireSmart Committee to develop a new framework for Community Wildfire Resiliency Planning.

On June 28th the CWRPs for the RDN were endorsed by the RDN board and they now provide a framework for wildfire risk reduction and planning in the RDN for the next several years.

https://www.rdn.bc.ca/community-wildfire-resiliency-plans

During the fire season, the BC Wildfire Service predictive services unit produces seasonal outlooks on a monthly basis. Season forecasts are assessed by meteorologists and fire behavior specialists who consider a range of environmental factors and observed weather data. The second available outlook produced this year was on June 2nd and is in the link below.

BCWS Seasonal Outlook June 2022

There are several resources that can walk a resident through how to FireSmart their home and their property, such as:

● Remove combustible surface material in the area within 10 metres of your home

● Make sure trees are spaced at least 3 metres apart

● Prune all branches that are within 2 metres of the ground

● The roof should be free of combustible materials, so embers don’t have a place to collect (it should also be a fire-resistant roof made of materials that may include clay, asphalt, and metal)

● The chimney should have a spark arrestor to reduce the chance of sparks and embers escaping

● Gutters should be free of debris and screened if possible

● Eaves and vents should be screened with 3mm wire mesh. Soffits and fascia should be properly fitted as well

● Siding like stucco, metal siding, brick and concrete have superior fire resistance

● Windows should be tempered, thermal or double-paned

● Doors should be fire rated and have a good seal; weather strip your garage door even to prevent embers from entering

By taking small consistent steps to FireSmart your home and property, you reduce your own risk and your neighbourhoods risk of devastating wildfire.

To stay informed about emergency incidents such as wildfires or flooding within the RDN sign up for the "Voyent Alert" service. Registration for the service is FREE, simple and anonymous. You can choose how you would like to receive alerts, either through a mobile app, email, text message or phone call.

https://www.rdn.bc.ca/voyent-alert

During the fire season, the BC Wildfire Service predictive services unit produces seasonal outlooks on a monthly basis. Season forecasts are assessed by meteorologists and fire behavior specialists who consider a range of environmental factors and observed weather data. The first available outlook produced this year was on May 4th.

BCWS Seasonal Outlook May 2022

We're excited to announce that The Community Wildfire Resiliency Plans for each Electoral area will be presented to the Electoral Area Services Committee on May 5, 2022. Final copies will be available as part of the meeting agenda, found here:

https://www.rdn.bc.ca/agendas-minutes-videos

Once presented to the EASC, copies of the CWRPs for each electoral area will be uploaded to the RDN website.

This has been a very extensive project that has brought together many components, residents, and agencies, and we want to thank everyone for their participation!

The Fuel Management Prescriptions for 707 Community Park on Gabriola Island, and the RDN Arboretum was presented to the RDN Electoral Area Services Committee on February 3, 2022. A copy of the Fuel Management Prescriptions are available in the February 3 meeting agenda. To view the meeting or the agenda: .rdn.bc.ca/agendas-minutes-videos