FireSmart Kitimat, the local branch of FireSmart BC, works with Kitimat Fire and Ambulance to educate the community on wildfire risks and teach preventative measures to mitigate damage caused by fires.
Once a modest team of two, it has since grown into a team of four members consisting of a FireSmart Coordinator, two FireSmart Assistants, and one Emergency Awareness Coordinator.
FireSmart Kitimat primarily focuses on education, which is one of the seven FireSmart disciplines. The FireSmart Kitimat team uses many approaches to deliver FireSmart education to the community, including:
- Giving FireSmart presentations to different groups within the community
- Hosting community-wide events
- Facilitating educational online contests
- Delivering various FireSmart programs (rebate program, kids programs and more)
- Conducting FireSmart Home Ignition Zone Assessments
- Sharing educational material on social media
FireSmart Kitimat also works alongside Kitimat Fire and Ambulance to build meaningful connections with members of the community by delivering fire hall tours, participating in Canada Day celebrations, attending school sports days, working with city council and teaming up with other local businesses/community organizations.
Becoming a member of the FireSmart Kitimat team is a great opportunity for post-secondary students to get involved and make a difference in their community.
Applications for these summer student positions are released in March/April every year by the District of Kitimat. Summer students work to deliver the FireSmart Kitimat program from mid-May to mid-August.
Additional FireSmart™ Resources:
- FireSmart BC Website
- FireSmart Kitimat Rebate Program Information
- FireSmart Kitimat Facebook
- FireSmart Kitimat Instagram
- FireSmart Kitimat TikTok
- FireSmart Email
To conduct your own FireSmart Home Ignition Zone Assessment and learn what changes you can make to YOUR home or property to reduce your wildfire risk, download the “FireSmart Begins at Home” app, available on both Google Play and the App Store.
About the FireSmart™ program:
FireSmart™ Canada is a program of the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre. The program is focused on reducing the wildfire risk to property, infrastructure, and public safety. FireSmart Canada leads the development of resources and programs designed to empower the public and increase neighbourhood resilience to wildfire across Canada.
Within FireSmart Canada, British Columbia has their own program. FireSmart British Columbia allows communities within BC to be educated on the FireSmart disciplines for their own neighbourhoods. The FireSmart program focuses on seven disciplines to help address the threat of wildfires which include education, vegetation management, legislation and planning, development considerations, interagency cooperation and cross-training emergency planning. Together, these disciplines create a framework for how FireSmart addresses wildfires at home, in our communities, and at provincial levels.
| Education |
|
Raising awareness of wildfire risks and teaching about prevention and mitigation. When it comes to being FireSmart, education is everything. From landscaping best practices to fire-resilient building materials, learning what you can do today to protect against wildfires can save homes and lives tomorrow. To learn more, click here. |
| Vegetation Management |
|
One of the key ways to mitigate wildfire threats is to manage vegetation on properties in fire-prone areas. Managing these fuels on the landscape by using the best available science is key to reducing community wildfire vulnerability. To learn more, click here. |
| Legislation and Planning |
|
Wildfire prevention is a community effort. It starts with proven FireSmart practices for land-planning and building legislation that focuses on fire safety. This includes the development of policy and legislation related to: forestry management practices; integrated land use planning; compliance and enforcement programs; and legal orders. To learn more, click here. |
| Development Considerations |
|
Whether in the design stage, building, or performing renovations, there are many ways land use planning and development standards can help protect homes and communities from wildfires. Effective local government land use planning can support community wildfire resiliency and infrastructure survivability. To learn more, click here |
| Interagency Cooperation |
|
FireSmart is a shared responsibility, which means it relies on strong and lasting partnerships. Promoting collaboration between agencies and across different levels of government will better support community wildfire preparedness, prevention, response, and recovery. To learn more, click here |
| Cross-training |
|
There are two kinds of firefighters: wildfire and structural. Many other local resources may also be involved in managing a wildfire incident. When firefighters are cross-trained, response capabilities are improved, and communities are safer. To learn more, click here |
| Emergency Planning |
|
It takes everyone from firefighters to government representatives to homeowners to have the best-laid plans in a worst-case scenario. Encouraging emergency planning by combining local knowledge with expertise in wildfire management helps communities become better prepared in responding to and recovering from wildfires. To learn more, click here |
Click here to learn how YOU can take action to FireSmart your home or property and reduce your wildfire risk!
Contact Us