In preparation for what can turn out to be an unpredictable turn of events, Mike Westwick, the Wildfire Information Officer with the GNWT, has shared a handful of tips on what Northern residents can do to make sure their homes and communities are safe in the event of a wildfire.
Westwick began by saying that when a wildfire is on approach to a community, that there is no guarantee of ‘no damage.’ Many of the tips that Mike has shared have come from the FireSmart movement, which the GNWT have been promoting ever since last year’s crisis came to an end.
To begin, Westwick stated that homeowners and those who own cabins should look around the immediate 1.5 metres around their properties for any object that can burn and see if they can be safely removed. This process should be repeated for the next ten metres around the structure.
“That’s going to make a significant difference, because it’s not a wall of flame that generally damages homes, it’s embers that land there. So it’s about getting rid of those paths for embers to ignite things and get towards your house. That’s really the simplest and easiest thing that people can do right now.”
Westwick added that embers can travel a surprisingly long distance, sharing that his team has seen them travel anywhere from two to ten kilometres, depending on wind conditions.
Another important action to take is to make sure the gutters on one’s house are cleared out.
“In gutters, you have dried up leaves, twigs, everything like that that gets built up in there. All of that can be fuel for a wildfire.”
Westwick also recommends that the area underneath the deck be cleaned out, as it can experience a similar build up as gutters. Any objects kept under the deck should also be moved to a smaller structure, such as a shed, that has also been subject to FireSmart practices.
Coordination with neighbours can also go a long way. Discussions about any joint practices or overlapping greenery are recommended as another way to be prepared for a potential wildfire.
