With some easy steps, you can protect your home from wildfire. Here in Penticton, wildfire prevention is particularly important as we move into the hot summer months. The good news is, by following the FireSmart tips provided on this page, risks can be avoided.
How to Make Your Home FireSmart
Sparks and embers can be thrown up to 2 km ahead of a wildfire. These can ignite materials on or near your home, which can be potentially devastating. These FireSmart guidelines will help you create a defensible space around your home, minimizing your fire risk.
A FireSmart Home Assessment will provide you with the necessary information about the wildfire hazards that currently exist on your home and property, and help to identify specific actions needed to reduce wildfire risks.
Request a free FireSmart Home Assessment
Request a FireSmart Home Assessment
Apply for a free FireSmart Home Assessment and have a Wildfire Mitigation Specialist provide you with an in-depth, on site assessment, and a detailed follow up report with customized mitigation actions designed to measurably reduce the wildfire risk. This assessment is provides an opportunity for home and property owners to earn a FireSmart Home Partners certificate, which is given upon completion of required mitigation actions and an onsite follow up inspection. This type of recognition can be used to enhance real estate transactions, and can also be shared with local insurance providers to showcase mitigation activities and potentially increase a homeowner’s ability to maintain insurance coverage.
Note: FireSmart Canada does not share the assessment or any details of the assessment with the insurance industry.
Complete a FireSmart Home Assessment yourself
Wanting to get a quick idea of your home’s risk to wildfire? Download the PDF and score each section to see how your home measures up. Want some advice on how to complete your home assessment? Watch the following video of Penticton’s Fire Chief conduct a FireSmart Home Assessment.
FireSmart Home Assessment from FireSmartBC on Vimeo.
The FireSmart Zone is the area around your home. Start at your home and work your way outwards. Changes made to the area closest to your home and your home itself will have the greatest impact on reducing the risk of wildfire damage. Download your copy of the FireSmart Homeowner's Manual to use as reference.
Also review the zones below for important tips.
This should be a fire-resistant zone, free of all materials that could easily ignite from wildfire.
Did you know? Coniferous trees are highly flammable (evergreen trees with cones and needles, such as spruce, pine, cedar and fir). Deciduous (leafy) trees such as maple, poplar, aspen and birch are much less flammable. Evergreen trees with cones are highly flammable and should not be within 10 metres of your home.
- Check for ignition points in around your home and yard. Prune your shrubs, removing all dead branches. De-limb trees up to 2-3 metres from the ground. If branches are hanging over your roof, trim them back.
- Remove debris that is easily ignited by sparks and embers. This includes dead pine needles: Keep them off your roof, out of your gutters and away from the foundation of your house.
- Firewood piles should be at least 10 metres from your home.
- Keep your lawn mowed and watered.
- If you’re replacing your roof, choose a Class A or fire-resistant product. Your roof is the most vulnerable part of your house in a wildfire because of its large size and its susceptibility to flying embers.
Download the FireSmart Homeowner's Manual to use as a home reference.
- Thin and prune coniferous trees to reduce hazards in this area.
- Regularly clean up accumulations of fallen branches, dry grass and needles from the ground to eliminate possible surface fuels.
- Prune tree branches within 2 metres of the ground.
Did you know? Radiant heat from a wildfire can melt vinyl siding, ignite your home and even break windows. Extreme heat can come from flames within 30 metres of your home.
Download the FireSmart Homeowner's Manual to use as a home reference.
Look for opportunities to make a fire break by creating space between trees and other potential flammable vegetation. Thinning and pruning are effective.
Space trees 3 metres apart (from branch tips) to reduce the intensity and rate of spread of a wildfire.
Download the FireSmart Homeowner's Manual to use as a home reference.
Are you interested in clearing your property from potential fuel such as shrubbery and other flammable debris? Contact the Penticton Fire Department to apply for your free FireSmart Burning Permit.
This purpose of the FireSmart Burning Permit is to promote the removal of fuel from wildland and urban interface properties. The permit is issued for a specific period and for a specific site.
There is no cost for the permit. After applying for the permit, a site inspection will be completed by the Fire Department’s Fire Prevention Division. If the permit is approved, burning can occur during the period specified.
Contact the Penticton Fire Department by phoning 250-490-2300 or email fire@penticton.ca.
3 Easy Ways to Assess Your Home
In the time it takes to make yourself a coffee, you could be assessing your property for potential fire risks. It’s that easy. Here are some ways to get started.
Download the FireSmart Homeowner's Manual and turn to the chart near the back where you can work through the steps to assess potential wildfire risks.
You can assess your home in just five minutes using the FireSmart Begins at Home app. Download it from the App Store or Google Play, which will walk you through the steps to help provide a high-level picture of some of the possible risks around your home.
Did you know that Penticton’s FireSmart community representative can conduct an on-site assessment of your home – for free? They will inspect your home and create a report with steps you can take.
Email fire@penticton.ca to contact the Fire Department to arrange your assessment.
Also scroll down below for information about how your neighbourhood can become a recognized FireSmart Community.
Penticton's FireSmart Communities
Is your neighbourhood FireSmart? The list of communities on board in Penticton is growing. These are B.C. communities that have been recognized by FireSmart Canada for taking the steps toward building a wildfire resilient community. View this digital map to see the growing list of locations.
The following neighbourhoods/areas have been recognized as a FireSmart Community so far. See all throughout B.C. on this interactive map.
- Sendero Canyon
- Spiller Road
- Juniper Drive
- Riddle Road
- Penticton Indian Band
Do you want to be a FireSmart Community? Contact the Penticton Fire Department – they can help walk you through the steps.
Would you like to make your entire neighbourhood more resilient to wildfire?
Neighbourhoods, subdivisions and small towns throughout Canada prone to wildfire can become a FireSmart Community. You’ll be recognized with an on-site plaque posted in your neighbourhood, providing peace of mind to both residents and visitors.
FireSmart communities also take part in a fun annual community event guided by the local fire department. Firefighters come to the community to help with risk reduction and fuel removal, tied in to a neighbourhood block-type event.
To find out more, contact the Penticton Fire Department, who will connect you with a community FireSmart representative. This representative will visit your area and assess any potential wildfire hazards.
Read the FireSmart Community brochure for more details.
Prepare for an Emergency
Visit our Emergency Preparedness page for information about steps to take to prepare for any emergency. It also provides details about what to do during an emergency or an evacuation order.
In the case of an active emergency, try the following resources for updates.
- City of Penticton's Emergency Updates page and Wildfire Updates page.
- Subscribe for email updates from the City of Penticton.
- Download the City of Penticton app for updates straight to your cellphone (available from Google Play or the App Store).
- Follow the City of Penticton's Facebook page and Twitter feed.
- Follow Penticton Fire Department’s Twitter updates: @pentictonfire.
For information about the status of a wildfire, please look to the BC Wildfire Service.
- Facebook (@BCForestFireInfo)
- Twitter (@BCGovFireInfo)
- Download the BC Wildfire Service app on Google Play or the App Store.
Are you at risk of being evacuated due to wildfire? Here are some last-minute actions you can take. Also download the FireSmart evacuation checklist.
Remember Your 3 Ps
Prepare, Plan and Practice. Find out more about each of the steps below.
Prepare for any emergency or potential evacuation. Visit our Emergency Preparedness page for full details.
Ensure you know your evacuation route. Have two ways out and know the location of your community's official reception centre. (Penticton Reception Center is located at the Community Centre, 325 Power St.)
Also, prepare your 72-hour emergency supply kit. This includes food and water for at least 72 hours. Get the full list!
Think about removing combustables away from the property. Plan for your family’s evacuations in the event of a fire. Also plan your Home Evacuation Checklist.
Plan where you’ll be monitoring the latest news updates if a wildfire occurs. Here are some places to bookmark in advance.
- City of Penticton's Emergency Updates page and Wildfire Updates page.
- Subscribe for email updates from the City of Penticton.
- Download the City of Penticton app for updates straight to your cellphone (available from Google Play or the App Store).
- Follow the City of Penticton's Facebook page and Twitter feed.
- Follow Penticton Fire Department’s Twitter updates: @pentictonfire.
- For information about the status of the wildfire, please look to the BC Wildfire Service. Check Facebook (@BCForestFireInfo, Twitter (@BCGovFireInfo) or simply download the BC Wildfire Service app on Google Play or the App Store.
Practice when to leave. You’ll leave as soon as evacuation is recommended by fire officials.
Practice keeping your emergency supply kit fresh and current, batteries, food, medications, etc.
Practice your escape routes – and what to do if you get trapped.
Practice your evacuation preparation steps.
Practice checking social media for current information, including @cityofpenticton, @pentictonfire and @bcgovfireinfo.
Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP)
Penticton is located in a fire-prone environment. The goal of Penticton's CWPP is to strengthen and maintain our community's resilience to wildfire.
Are you interested in learning more about Penticton's fire risk and fire history? Check out the maps below.
- Penticton Fire History (2016)
- Penticton Fire Behaviour (2016)
- Penticton Wildfire Risk Rating (2016)
- Penticton Risk of Ignition (2016)
- City of Penticton Fire Response Area
Additional Resources
Here are some key documents you can download to help assess your property.
FireSmart Begins at Home Manual
FireSmart Home Ignition Zone Poster
Last-Minute Wildfire Evacuation Checklist
Become a Recognized FireSmart Community
Create Your Family Communication Plan
Also visit the following websites:
The following websites have valuable tips and information.
For the latest information about the wildland/fire danger rating, check out the BC Fire Danger webpage.
The Wildfire Preparedness Guide will help you prepare your household, protect your property and understand what to do if a wildfire is close to your community.
Download your copy of the guide.
Have Questions?
Penticton Fire Department
Phone: 250-490-2300
Email: fire@penticton.ca
250 Nanaimo Avenue West, Penticton, BC, V2A 1N5Report a Wildfire
To report a wildfire or inappropriate behaviour that could start a wildfire, call BC Wildfire Service at 1-800-663-5555 or *5555 from a cellphone.