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Powell River event will feature several agencies interested in fire protection

Community members can receive advice on wildfire protection for their homes
Paul Galinski
Powell River wildfire awareness
AWARE BEAR: Attending a past wildfire community awareness day are Rylan Chard-Collicutt and Smokey the bear, who will be in attendance again at this year’s event. The awareness day provides information to Powell River area residents on how to make their homes and properties more resilient to wildfire threat. Contributed photo

An upcoming wildfire awareness day will provide an opportunity for Powell River area residents to learn about wildfires and how to prepare their properties to mitigate fire hazard.

The Wildfire Community Preparedness Day will be held on Saturday, May 4, from 11 am to 2 pm at Timberlane Park. Powell River Fire Rescue, BC Wildfire Service crews and the qathet Regional District FireSmart program will be at the event to provide important information on preventing and protecting against wildfires.

Regional FireSmart coordinator Marc Albert said he will be in attendance promoting the FireSmart program. He will be providing suggestions on how to reduce wildfire hazards at people’s homes and properties.

He is also hoping to make people aware that the program is doing property assessments at residents’ homes in the region for those concerned about wildfires.

“I can help them find solutions to these hazards,” said Albert. “I will also be providing information on how people can reduce their risks to wildfires.”

Wildfire Community Preparedness Day will be a family friendly event, with a children’s fire-fit challenge. Hot dogs, snacks and drinks will be served.

The province has made a monetary commitment to the regional FireSmart program. qathet Regional District has received $45,000 to assist with education, planning, inter-agency cooperation, emergency planning and cross-training initiatives, and FireSmart activities on private land.

“It’s great news,” said Albert. “I find this program gets better and better every year. There are new things we are able to do this year that are going to be really good for the community. It’s a really good direction that this program is heading in.”

People wanting one-on-one home assessments can speak to Albert at the wildfire awareness day, call him at 604.414.7839, or send an email to [email protected].

“We are here to support people who are concerned about wildfires and give them the best ways they can mitigate any hazard on their properties,” said Albert. “There are all kinds of simple things people can do around the yard that can make a big improvement. Oftentimes, people are quite concerned about wildfires and they discover things they can do that can have a pretty big impact on making their properties more resilient.”