Penticton Fire Rescue is warning people living in potential interface wildfire areas to take the lead in improved wildfire safety in their neighbourhoods.
The department with the support of Penticton city council has secured funding from the Union of BC Municipalities to encourage self-organized groups to take action to “protect your home from wildfire.”
“The Penticton Fire Department is encouraging residents to improve the fire resiliency and risk by taking proactive steps to reduce the damage to property should a wildfire strike,” said fire chief Larry Watkinson in a written statement.
The department in conjunction with FireSmart Canada and its local representative will be working with residents in the Spiller Road area towards becoming a FireSmart community.
Those living in the region will soon be receiving details on a neighbourhood information session scheduled for May.
Residents living in all areas that have the possibility of an interface fire are asked to address the following points:
-consider any kind of vegetation, mature trees, shrubs, grass and woodpiles as potential and easily combustable fuels and to the manage the space around homes and buildings in that regard.
-make sure all exterior walls, doors, windows, eaves and roof are to FireSmart standard.
-as part of the FireSmart protection plan, people should be aware interface fires often start as accidental ignitions and pre-planning is critical.