wildfire

Lanztville Fire
Rescue

7580 Superior Road
Lantzville BC
V0R 2H0

Phone
250.390.2811

Fax
250.390.9215

Emergency
911

WildFire Safety Tips from Lantzville Fire Rescue

The Rural Reality
Wildland forest fires are capable of spreading at an astonishing rate. Crowning forest fires often spread at up to 5.5 kilometers per hour, with spotting as far as 2 kilometers ahead. Wind-blown grass fires can spread at speeds up to 8.5 kilometers per hour.

If you live in or near a forested region of our province, sooner or later you may have to contend with the spread of a wildfire. The best protection against loss, damage or injury due to wildfire is prevention.

Find some helpful information below. More information is available at the fire hall, or at the District office. Ask for the FireSmart Manual.

A Well Thought out FireSmart Protection Plan

A.	Prune tree branches to a height of 2 meters or higher.
B.	Store fire wood 10 meters or more from the house. (avoid down slope location).
C.	Remove all trees, long grass, shrubs, logs, branches, twigs, and needles within 10 meters of the house.
D.	Thin trees (with 3-6 meters between crowns) for at least 30 meters from the house.
E.	Contact your utility company if trees or branches are not clear of power lines.
F.	Mow and water the grass within 10 meters of buildings regularly.
G.	Clearly display address or lot numbers for quick identification by fire and emergency services.
H.	Make sure the driveway is wide enough to accommodate emergency vehicles.
I.	Try to provide an alternative emergency access route to your property.
J.	Try to provide a pond or tank as an emergency water supply.
K.	Have a "FireSmart" burning barrel.
L.	Prune driveway trees to a height of at least 3 or 4 meters to allow firetrucks to enter.
M.	Make sure that the chimney is installed to code, complete with spark arrestor screens.
N.	Ensure all eaves are enclosed and all vents are screened including soffits.
O.	Sheath in undersides of balconies, decks and crawl spaces with flame resistant materials.
P.	Locate propane tanks at least 10m from buildings and clear all vegetation with 3 meters of the tank.
Q.	Use only fire retardant roofing rated Class A, B or C and fire resistant exterior siding.
R.	Install solid shutters or metal fire screens to provide increased fire protection for windows and doors.

For more information about protecting your home and community from wildfire, stop into Lantzville Fire Rescue or the Lantzville District office and ask for a copy of the FireSmart Manual.