Kamloops offers free home FireSmart assessments, rebates for homeowners

In advance of what is expected to be a hot summer, the City of Kamloops is encouraging homeowners to request a free assessment of their properties to make sure they are resilient in the face of wildfire. 

Josh Cowen, an educator with Kamloops Fire Rescue, said firefighters are "quite concerned" about the possibility of wildfire in the city, particularly if a blaze on the outskirts of town sparks embers that land in yards, starting spot fires. 

"Being fire smart in Kamloops is super important. We do live in a hot climate and within the municipal boundaries of Kamloops we do have quite a fuel load," he told CBC’s Daybreak Kamloops.  

He said firefighting resources in the city are already limited, so he hopes education through things like FireSmart assessments will help prevent as many fires as possible. 

"In Kamloops, we don't have a ton of resources available and a house fire once it gets going, it can take a lot to put out," Cowen said.

That’s why the city wants to see property owners take it upon themselves to make sure their properties are more resilient — made from materials that resist fire a little better and free from dead trees or bushes nearby. 

FireSmart B.C. is a program that teaches the public and communities about ways to mitigate the impact of wildfire near homes, and provides funding for things like retrofits and building upgrades to make them more resilient to fire. 

When someone requests an assessment, Cowen or one of his colleagues will visit the property to look for hazards, he said. They’ll then receive a report with recommendations to make the home FireSmart. 

The city is also offering rebates to people who take it upon themselves to FireSmart their homes. 

The Community Fuel Reduction Incentive provides homeowners with up to $800 to remove primarily cedar and juniper trees, which are problematic, Cowen said. 

"They're not native to this climate and they pose a huge fire risk. There's a lot of oils and resins in cedar and juniper trees that allow them to burn very hot and very quickly."

Cowen said if someone has a cedar tree within five metres of their home, for example, they can receive $150 to remove that one tree. If they have more, they can get up to $800. 

Additionally, residents can access the FireSmart Home Improvement Rebate, which provides homeowners with up to $1,000 toward home improvements that make the structure more resilient — things like new siding, decks, roofs all qualify under this program.