Be Wildfire Ready and FireSmart

The wildland-urban interface, or WUI, is where homes, neighbourhoods and other development meet or intermingle with forests, grasslands and natural areas. As communities grow into forested areas, WUI neighbourhoods are becoming more common across British Columbia. Living, working and enjoying recreation in these areas can increase exposure to wildfire, but there are practical steps we can all take to reduce risk and build more resilient communities. 

See a wildfire or unattended campfire? 

Call 911 if there is an immediate threat to people, property or public safety. 

To report a wildfire, unattended campfire or open burning violation, call 1-800-663-5555 toll-free or dial *5555 from a cell phone. You can also report through the BC Wildfire Service mobile app. 

FireSmart is a national wildfire mitigation program that helps homeowners and communities reduce the risk of wildfire damage. 

Wildfires can affect homes in three main ways: 

• Embers: Burning pieces of material that can travel ahead of a wildfire and ignite leaves, needles, mulch, decks and other combustible materials. 
• Radiant heat: Heat from a nearby fire that can ignite or damage materials without direct flame contact. 
• Direct flame contact: Flames reaching your home, outbuildings or other structures. 

Embers can travel long distances ahead of a wildfire. Reducing combustible materials on and near your property can help lower the chance that embers ignite your home. 

Learn more with this Guide from FireSmart BC.

You do not need to complete every FireSmart improvement at once. Start with a free assessment, focus on the highest-priority actions and make improvements over time. 

Protect your home and yard 

Start with your Home Ignition Zone 

The Home Ignition Zone is the area within 30 metres of your home and other structures. The closer vegetation, materials and other fuels are to your home, the more important it is to reduce wildfire risk.

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The Home Ignition Zone has three areas. 

Immediate Zone: 0–1.5 metres 

This includes your home, attached structures such as decks, and the first 1.5 metres around them. This is the most important area to keep clear of combustible materials and vegetation. 

What you can do: 

• Remove leaves, needles, twigs and other debris from roofs, gutters, decks and around your home’s foundation. 
• Keep firewood, propane cylinders, building materials and other combustible items away from your home. 
• Use non-combustible materials such as gravel, brick or concrete near your home. 
• Avoid woody shrubs, dense vegetation and trees immediately beside your home. 
• When building or renovating, consider fire-resistant materials for roofs, siding, decks and vents. 

Intermediate Zone: 1.5–10 metres 

The goal in this area is to reduce the ability of a fire to spread toward your home. 

What you can do: 

• Remove woody debris, dry grass, needles and combustible mulch. 
• Choose fire-resistant plants and non-combustible landscaping materials where possible.  
• Move firewood, trailers, recreational vehicles, sheds and other combustible materials farther from your home. 
• Keep grass cut and vegetation maintained. 
• Use gravel or other non-combustible ground cover around structures. 

Extended Zone: 10–30 metres 

The goal in this area is to reduce wildfire intensity and slow its spread as it approaches your property. 

What you can do: 

• Remove fallen branches, dry grass, needles and other surface fuels. 
• Space coniferous trees to reduce continuous tree canopy where appropriate. 
• Prune lower branches up to two metres from the ground, or up to one-third of the tree height. 
• Reduce dense vegetation and create separation between shrubs, trees and structures.  
• Work with neighbours where FireSmart zones overlap across property lines. 

Ladder fuels are vegetation or materials that allow fire to move from the ground into shrubs, tree canopies or structures. Examples include: 

• Tall grass  
• Shrubs  
• Low-hanging branches 
• Firewood  
• Combustible items stored against a building 

Fuel continuity is how closely these materials are connected, both vertically and horizontally. When vegetation, trees and structures are close together, fire can spread more easily across the landscape and toward buildings. 

Creating space between fuels can interrupt the path of a fire and help reduce the chance of flames reaching tree canopies or structures. 

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A beautiful yard can also be a wildfire-resilient yard. The plants you choose, where you place them and how you maintain them can affect how wildfire moves through vegetation and whether embers find something to ignite. 

Simple places to start 

• Keep grass maintained. 
• Remove accumulated leaves, needles and dead plant material. 
• Prune dead branches and low-hanging limbs. 
• Avoid combustible mulch and dense shrubs beside your home. 
• Focus first on vegetation within 1.5 metres of your home and other structures. 
• Choose plants and landscaping materials that are less likely to ignite. 

Learn more about fire resistant plants.

Get help through FireSmart programs 

Free wildfire mitigation assessments 

Want to know how FireSmart your home is? 

A trained Wildfire Mitigation Specialist can visit your property, identify wildfire vulnerabilities and provide recommendations tailored to your home and yard. 

A free assessment typically takes one to three hours and includes: 

• A review of wildfire risks around your property. 
• An overview of your Home Ignition Zones. 
• Identification of vulnerabilities from embers, radiant heat and nearby vegetation. 
• A personalized report with recommended FireSmart actions. 
• Information about available mitigation programs and next steps. 

Following an assessment and completion of recommended actions, eligible properties may be able to work toward FireSmart certification. Some insurance providers may recognize FireSmart actions or certification; residents should check directly with their insurer to confirm available options. 

Request a FireSmart Assessment

Wildfire resilience works best when neighbours work together.

The Local FireSmart Collective Program helps neighbourhoods, strata developments, townhouse complexes, manufactured home parks, schools, parks and rural communities identify shared wildfire risks and take coordinated action. 

Participating groups can work with a Local FireSmart Representative to: 

• Complete a collective wildfire risk assessment. 
• Develop a shared action plan. 
• Set achievable FireSmart goals. 
• Track progress and renew participation each year. 
• Build a more wildfire-resilient community. 

Learn more about the Local FireSmart Collective Program.

Chipping, debris and local services 

Removing branches, woody debris and other flammable vegetation is an important part of FireSmarting your property. The City offers Brush Chipping program in partnership with the Ridge Meadows Recycling Society to help residents manage eligible yard debris safely and responsibly. See Brush Chipping | Maple Ridge, BC 

Know what to do before wildfire happens 

Wildfire preparedness is not only about your property. Make sure everyone in your household knows what to do if conditions change quickly. 

Prepare now 

• Develop an emergency plan, keep it current and review it with everyone in your household.  
• Create and practise a family evacuation plan. 
• Prepare grab-and-go bags for each member of your household, including pets. 
• Know the difference between an evacuation alert and an evacuation order. 
• Review your home insurance and confirm you have appropriate coverage for fire damage.  
• Learn how to use a fire extinguisher safely. 
• Take part in City evacuation drills when they are offered. 
• Know the rules for outdoor burning, outdoor appliances and fuel storage. 

Evacuation alert and evacuation order