As the FireSmart program begins to wind down, we would like to highlight the work completed by the crew throughout the past couple of months. The FireSmart team supports wildfire preparedness, prevention and mitigation through public education, assessments and mitigative work to reduce community risk from wildfires.

The FireSmart program continues to be led by FireSmart coordinator Travis Lansing. The FireSmart crew completed approximately 30 comprehensive assessments this season.

"This year, we continued our efforts in public engagement and education," shares Lansing, who considers community engagement to be this year's greatest success. "We participated in various District of Sicamous long weekend events at the beach park, including Canada Day and Family Fun Day."

The FireSmart crew also attended several local farmers' markets and supported a fundraiser for a local firefighter. According to Lansing, the FireSmart crew is exploring opportunities for future off-season events.

"More residents reached out to us directly for wildfire mitigation efforts compared to previous years," explains Lansing. "This shift toward proactive engagement is a significant success in our eyes."

Three of four FireSmart crew members completed their wildfire mitigation specialist certification. This achievement allowed the crew to offer more in-depth assessments for homeowners. In some cases, the crew was even able to partner select insurance companies to offer discounts for properties meeting FireSmart standards.

"This year, yardwork was officially reintroduced for residents needing extra help," says Lansing. "We provided assistance on several properties, and homeowners were very appreciative of our support."

The program also expanded to include work on the Highway 97A walking path. Lansing explained that additional manpower and more heavy-duty equipment would be required to expand services to more community greenspaces, which will be considered in next season's mitigation work.

"Our biggest challenge this year was staffing," Lansing shares, reflecting on unavoidable absences due to personal reasons or firefighting duties. "It's something all workplaces face to some extent, but this year, we were hit by a perfect storm of timing."

While the Sicamous FireSmart crew is most active from late spring to early fall, Lansing is available year-round to provide support to residents regarding wildfire mitigation and prevention. Any questions and inquires can be shared via email to firesmart@sicamous.ca.

Sicamous FireSmart Program

FireSmart 2024