Firefighters are going door-to-door in the District of North Vancouver to deliver an important message just in time for wildfire season.
Starting this weekend, crews will be delivering door hangers to the approximately 3,000 district residences that are adjacent to bushy areas, such as forests, mountains and greenbelts, which are potentially at a higher risk of fire, according to Conrad Breakey, public safety captain for District of North Vancouver Fire and Rescue Services.
“We’ve identified properties in the district – private residences – that are very close to, or within, the wildland interface zone. Basically, they’re in the bush – that puts them at risk for being exposed to wildfire,” said Breakey.
The door hangers – which crews will be delivering to residences every night starting June 20 to June 27 – will offer tips and stress the importance of protecting homes from fire in the wildland zones.
They’ll also outline information when it comes to outdoor burning permits in the district.
Some of the information will include tips on clearing brush, using the organics cart, pruning trees, and keeping flammables and brush away from one’s home, according to Breakey.
“It’s being proactive in being fire smart … before it gets to a wildland or wildfire incident. The last thing we want to do is have somebody trying to clean their eavestrough when there’s a forest fire bearing down on them,” he said. “It makes it easier for us to contain those properties when the work has already been done ahead of time.”
This is the second year the department has done its door hanger program.
People are encouraged to visit the FireSmart Canada website for more information, firesmartcanada.ca/programs-and-education/firesmart-101.
