Fire crews worked with houses on Takala Dr. south of Nanaimo on August 19, 2021, sprinkling roofs and dousing grass in a bid to prevent a wildfire from spreading to nearby structures. (Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Jordan Davidson

be prepared

RDN forms wildfire resiliency plan

Jul 6, 2022 | 5:32 AM

NANAIMO — The Regional District of Nanaimo (RDN) is giving its residents more tools to help prevent the spread of wildfires.

The RDN recently completed their new Community Wildfire Resiliency Plan (CWRP), which assesses the risks and impacts of wildfires in all seven electoral areas within the RDN and makes recommendations about the best way to reduce those hazards.

Catherine Morrison, manager of emergency services with the RDN, said this plan is the first of its kind done regionally since 2005, providing the framework for local wildfire reduction mitigation.

“They follow a provincial template developed by the BC Wildfire and FireSmart BC, and provides for a consistent and comprehensive plan on actions that each local government can do to mitigate the risk of wildfire within their regions.”

The FireSmart BC program works on recommendations from several cooperating agencies, including the Fire Chiefs Association of BC, BC Parks, and the BC Wildfire Service.

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The cost of the CWRP was $157,000, took five years to develop and was funded through the Community Wildfire Resiliency Investment FireSmart grant from the province.

The plan was developed following consultations with community groups and stakeholders, as well as by reviewing existing community plans and bylaws.

Several field studies were done to examine the forest health, fire history, and fuel conditions.

Morrison said they provide recommendations for RDN residents to reduce wildfire risk on their own properties using principles laid out by FireSmart BC.

“That looks at undertaking mitigation actions within their FireSmart priority zones. So directly within 1.5 metres of their house look at building a fuel-free environment. So removing bark mulch and clearing the gutters, removing moss off the roof.”

A fire at Malcolm Community Park in RDN electoral area F west of Whiskey Creek shows how a build-up of ground vegetation can provide fuel for wildfires. (Catherine Morrison/RDN)

Residents can also take advantage of a FireSmart home assessment, where someone from the RDN, local fire department, or FireSmart representatives can complete an assessment on your home.

“That provides information on what actions a homeowner can do on their own property to mitigate the risks and protect their property if a wildfire were to occur.”

The plan also looked at large-scale events such as a community-wide evacuation, with inter-agencies cooperation and cross-training being key factors.

“Those recommendations will be used to enhance the RDN current training and exercise program and look at new opportunities for collaboration with our first responder agencies.”

Morrison told NanaimoNewsNOW they will review this plan with local fire departments and stakeholders to prioritize mitigation efforts based on feasibility and costs involved.

“All the actions won’t be completed overnight, but it is a process that provides us actions that we can complete over time to develop our resiliency within the community and have a long-term FireSmart program within the region.”

The updated CWRP is available here at the RDN’s website.

The communication tower on Little Mountain in RDN electoral area F west of Parksville is considered critical infrastructure that needs to be protected from wildfires. (Catherine Morrison/RDN)

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jordan@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @JordanDHeyNow