GNWT’s Department of Environment and Climate Change and FireSmart NWT announced that the Fire Department is launching the FireSmart Neighbourhood Recognition Program for the first time in the city of Yellowknife and N’dilǫ this year.
GNWT also announced they will continue offering other wildfire resilience initiatives. These include free Home Ignition Zone assessments and an increase in the amount of non-mixed FireSmart yard waste residents can drop off at the Solid Waste Facility free of charge.
Mike Westwick, N.W.T. manager for wildfire prevention and mitigation told True North FM that the program is about empowering local communities to work together to prevent and protect their neighbourhoods.
“Basically, we call on local folks within neighbourhoods to organize themselves and agree to take (protective) types of actions to the fire service.
FireSmart Neighbourhood Recognition Program is designed to motivate community-wide engagement in wildfire risk reduction. The nationally developed initiative supports residents to come together to boost local wildfire protection efforts.
The program engages local authorities to complete these grassroots neighbourhood assessments.
“Departments are engaged to complete a hazard assessment around the neighbourhood. That includes a report that’s provided to the committee of individuals who have decided within that neighbourhood to take action from there,” explained Westwick.
The committee is formed in partnership with the fire service. They develop an action plan to improve their resilience to wildfires. The committee can organize things like community cleanup plans and education events.
“From there, that is approved by the local fire service that’s working with folks. And from there, those folks need to prove that they’ve taken that action and dedicated at least two dollars per capita investments that include the land resources, as the volunteer time counts, of course, in order to address those measures,” said Westwick.
Community groups choose a neighbourhood “champion” who works with YKFD to coordinate educational outreach and fire risk reduction at the neighbourhood level.
Westwick points out that the program allows people to engage in such a way that will help prepare them for an emergency.
“It’s an opportunity for our fire services to have connection with local neighbourhoods to build knowledge about fire smart and to provide recognition to folks who have taken those fire smart actions and a little bit of funding behind them to help them out on that too,” explained Westwick.
The program is available across the territories and has many benefits
“You’re bringing neighbours together, you’re addressing collaboration, that’s required to be FireSmart because obviously wildfires don’t stop at somebody’s fence. So there’s there’s threats that you can address together and this is the way to bring people together to do that,” urged Westwick.
The initiative “builds community and collaboration.”
“You have a situation where you’ve all come together and reduce your Wildland fire risk, the of damage to your places. All this is based on FireSmart principles that are proven to help houses survive when widlfires approach.
N.W.T.’s FireSmart principles include interagency cooperation, public education, cross-training, vegetation management, emergency planning, legislation and development considerations.
Westwick said its a program that “builds knowledge” and “supports action” at the community level, making them safer places.
Other fire prevention initiatives that are available to area residents include free Home Ignition Zone (HIZ) assessments upon request. These assessments are onducted by the Yellowknife Fire Department staff. They provide “property-specific recommendations” aimed at reducing the risk of wildfires.
The city is also increasing the amount of non-mixed FireSmart yard waste residents can drop off at the Solid Waste Facility free of charge.
The city said that to qualify for waived tipping fees, residents are asked to declare the load as FireSmart yard waste upon entry.
The city said that residents should note that tree stumps, felled trees, painted or demolition wood, soil, rocks and similar types of large debris are not accepted under the free program.
The city asks residents who would like more information to visit the Solid Waste Facility website.
Anyone who is interested in scheduling a FireSmart Home Assessment or learning how to involve your neighbourhood in the program can contact the Yellowknife Fire Division at (867) 766-5502 or email [email protected].
