Prepare for wildfire with FireSmart NWT

FireSmart guide for homes, cabins, and businesses

FireSmart begins at home 

In the Northwest Territories, many communities, homes, cabins, and camps are close to forests. In forests, wildfire is a natural and important part of the ecosystem. 

FireSmart places are the ones most likely to be left standing when wildfire hits close to home. The best thing about being FireSmart is how easy it is. Taking simple steps can make a real difference at your home, cabin, or camp.

Learn how to do it below, or download the FireSmart Begins at Home Manual.

How wildfires start

Three elements are needed for a fire to start:

  • fuel (wood, brush, lichen)
  • oxygen (from the air)
  • ignition source (heat from lightning or human activities)

Each of these three elements are needed to keep a wildfire burning.

These elements are often present across our forests – through trees, grass, dried leaves, and other materials. That’s why fires in these areas are often able to grow.

FireSmart principles will help you remove fuel to make it less likely for wildfire to start near your home, camp, or cabin.

How wildfires spread

The primary factors that influence the spread of wildfires are:

  • Fuels (wood, brush, lichen, buildings which can catch on fire easily)
  • Weather (wind, heat, lightning)
  • The landscape of the area

FireSmart actions like building your home from material that is less likely to catch fire, removing fuel from nearby, and thoughtful landscaping will help reduce the risk of wildfire damaging the things you value most.

Creating a FireSmart property

By taking action and creating a FireSmart property, you will dramatically increase the resistance of your home and property to damage caused by wildfire.

Changes made to the area closest to your home, and your home itself, have the greatest potential to reduce the risk of wildfire damage.

The Home / Non-Combustible Zone: 0 – 1.5 Metres

 

1. Assess the roof

Maintenance: Roofs contain many areas in which debris and embers may collect; clean your roof regularly of combustible materials such as leaves and branches.

Roofing materials: Fire-resistant or fire-retardant roofing is referred to as Class A-, B- or C-rated roofing. Options include metal, asphalt, clay and composite rubber tiles. Untreated wood shakes create a dangerous combination of combustible material and crevices for embers or firebrands to enter. Refer to manufacturer’s guidelines to maintain the fire resistance of your roof.

 

2. Install a spark arrestor on the chimney

A spark arrestor on your chimney will reduce the chance of sparks escaping and starting fires.

 

3. Keep gutters clean

Regularly remove debris from gutters, since embers can easily ignite dry materials. Consider screening gutters with metal mesh to reduce the volume of debris that can accumulate.

 

4. Assess eaves and vents

While vents play a significant role in removing moisture from attics, they create an opening for embers. Consider screening vents with three-millimetre non-combustible wire mesh. Open eaves also create a surface that can be affected by embers and direct heat. Properly fitted soffits, fascia , blocking, and/or 3mm non-combustible screens help reduce the risk of embers and heat reaching the attic.

 

5. Use fire-resistant siding

Stucco, metal siding, brick/concrete and fibre cement siding offer superior fire resistance. Logs and heavy timbers are still reasonably effective. Untreated wood and vinyl siding offer very little protection against wildfire.

 

6. Install fire-resistant windows

Tempered, thermal (double-paned) windows are recommended. Single-pane windows provide little resistance to heat from an advancing wildfire.

 

7. Ensure doors are fire-rated and have a proper seal

All doors into the home should be fire rated and have a good seal. This is true for garage doors as well as your doors.

 

8. Clean under decks

Sheath the base of the decks, balconies and houses with fire-resistant material to reduce the risk of sparks and embers igniting the home. Embers can collect under decks, so be sure to enclose the areas and, more importantly, remove fuel that may accumulate underneath them.

 

9. Separate any fencing to be at least 1.5 metres from the home

Wooden fences/boardwalks create a direct path from a wildfire to your home. Separating the house from a wooden fence with a metal gate can slow the advance of a fire. Remember to cut the grass along the fence line, since long, dry grass can ignite easily.

 

10. Maintain the exterior of the home

Regular maintenance and cleaning the corners and crevices of your home and yard (where needles and debris build up) will leave nothing for embers to ignite.

 

11. Don't forget about outbuildings

Zone 1: 1.5 - 10 Metres

 

The yard

A FireSmart yard includes smart choices for plants, shrubs, grass and mulch. Selecting fire-resistant plants and materials will increase the likelihood of your home surviving a wildfire.

 

Landscaping within 10 metres

Plant low-growing, well-spaced, fire-resistant plants and shrubs. Avoid having any woody debris present, including mulch, since it can provide places for fires to start. Make sure that you maintain a 1.5-metre, non-combustible zone around your entire home and any attachments. What is a non-combustible zone? It’s a surface of soil, rock, or stone, with no plants, debris or combustible materials.

Characteristics of fire-resistant plants

  • moist, supple leaves
  • minimal accumulation of dead vegetation
  • water-like sap that produces little odour
  • low amount of sap or resin material

Characteristics of highly flammable plants

  • aromatic leaves or needles
  • accumulations of fine, dry, dead material
  • resin or oils
  • loose, papery or flaky bark

Plants to avoid

  • cedar
  • juniper
  • pine
  • tall grass
  • spruce

Grass

A mowed lawn is a fire-resistant lawn. Grass shorter than 10 centimetres is less likely to burn intensely. If possible, ensure your lawn is well hydrated, as dry grass has a higher flammability potential. Lastly, consider a xeriscape yard to reduce or eliminate the need for irrigation.

 

Bark mulch and pine needles

Do not use bark or pine needle mulches within 10 metres of your home, since they are highly combustible. Gravel mulch and decorative crushed rock mulch significantly reduce the risk of wildfire.

 

Firewood piles

Wood piled against a house is a major fire hazard. Moving your firewood pile may be a key factor that allows your home to survive a wildfire. Clean up any such areas regularly, since easily ignitable debris often collects here.

 

Burn barrels and fire pits

Burn barrels should be placed as far as possible from structures and trees. Keep the area within three metres of the burn barrel free of combustible material. Always ensure that your burn barrel has proper ventilation and is screened with six-millimetre (or finer) wire mesh. Check with your local government about specific requirements and restrictions regarding backyard fire pits. Fire permits for burn barrels and fire pits are required in many jurisdictions.

On-site fire tools

Every home should have readily accessible shovels, rakes, axes, garden hoses, sprinklers and ladders to assist in suppressing wildfires.

 

Power lines

Power lines should be clear of branches and other vegetation. Contact your local utility company to discuss removing any branches or vegetation around overhead electrical installations.

 

Trees

A FireSmart yard can include trees. We often choose to live surrounded by the natural environment and trees are a cherished part of our relationship with nature. By following the recommendations in this manual, you can have a lush, green yard that is also resistant to wildfire.

Which trees should you plant? Deciduous (leafy) trees are resistant to wildfire and include:

  • poplar
  • birch
  • aspen
  • cottonwood
  • maple
  • alder
  • ash
  • cherry

 

Maintaining trees

Include debris clean-up in your spring and fall yard maintenance. Dry leaves, twigs and branches are flammable and should be removed from the yard and gutters. Older deciduous (leafy) trees can have rot and damage that makes them susceptible to fire.

 

Trees to avoid

Coniferous trees, with cones and needles, are highly flammable and should not be within 10 metres of your home. These include:

  • spruce
  • fir
  • pine

If these trees ignite within 10 metres of your home, the direct flames and intense heat can cause damage or even ignite your home.

Want to learn more about FireSmart landscaping?

Zone 2: 10 - 30 Metres

Coniferous tree spacing

Once fire moves into treetops, it can easily move into neighbouring trees and increase the overall intensity of the fire. Spacing trees at least three metres apart will reduce the risk of this happening.

 

Removal of combustible material

Clean up woody debris on the ground and remove brush.

 

Tree pruning

A surface fire can climb up into trees quickly. Removing branches within two metres of the ground will help stop surface fires from moving into treetops.

When to prune

You can prune dead branches at any time of year, but it is best to prune coniferous trees in the spring or fall.

 

How to prune

  • Prune branches close to the tree trunk, but not so close that you damage the main trunk and bark of the tree.
  • Never remove more than one-third of the canopy of a tree. Doing so can harm the tree.

Roadways and driveways

In an emergency, you and your family may need to leave your community while emergency responders enter. For this to happen safely and efficiently, consider the following tips:

  • Clearly mark your property with your address.
  • Clear vegetation from access routes to and from your home. Target trees and branches that could make it difficult for a firetruck to approach your home.
  • If you have a large property, make sure that your driveway has a turnaround and, if possible, provide two access routes to your home.

 

Your neighbourhood

Many of these recommendations assume that you have direct control over the property within 30 metres of your home. If that is not the case, the FireSmart recommendations still apply. Chat with your neighbours about FireSmart. Shared information, along with mutual co-operation and planning, can help.

Resources for homes, cabins, and businesses

View all resources: FireSmart Resources For Homes, Cabins, and Businesses