Revelstoke Fire Rescue is dedicated to reducing wildfire risk to our community. A community has a greater likelihood of surviving a wildfire if people within that community have made FireSmart™ improvements to their properties. It has been shown in field, laboratory and wildfire modeling research that FireSmart principles are effective at reducing the risk to life and property in the most extreme wildfire conditions.
Revelstoke Fire Rescue has adopted the FireSmart program to teach people in our community FireSmart principles and how to apply them to their properties, thereby lessening the chance of catastrophic loss in a wildfire. Revelstoke Fire Rescue is now offering free assessments of properties and neighbourhoods for Revelstoke residents who would like to improve their home and/or neighbourhoods resilience to wildfire.
The FireSmart rebate program provides up to $1000 to homeowners living within the City of Revelstoke who conduct FireSmart work on their property. This rebate is designed to help homeowners with the costs of making their properties more resilient to wildfire.
Steps to take to get the FireSmart Rebate
Step 1 Book a FireSmart Assement
Contact your Local FireSmart Representative at 250-837-2884 or email firesmart@revelstoke.ca.
Step 2 FireSmart Your Home or Property
Review your Recommended Activities Work Hours Form from your Local FireSmart Representative.
Take photos prior to commencing the work.
Work on all or a few of the items identified on your Recommended Activities Work Hours Form.
Track hours worked on the form.
Save receipts and invoices for eligible costs.
Take photos of the completed work.
Step 3 Apply for a Rebate within 60 days of Assessment
Submit the completed Recommended Activities - Work Hours Form along with photos, invoices and receipts to your Local FireSmart Representative.
The Community Wildfire Resiliency Plan (CWRP) process was created in British Columbia as a response to the devastating 2003 wildfire in Kelowna. CWRPs aim to develop strategic recommendations to assist communities in improving safety and reducing the risk of damage to property and critical infrastructure from wildfires. Recommendations contained within a CWRP are based on the seven FireSmart disciplines (Education, Legislation and Planning, Development Considerations, Interagency Cooperation, Cross-Training, Emergency Planning, and Vegetation Management).
This CWRP provides the City of Revelstoke with an action plan that can be used to guide FireSmart initiatives within the City and with adjacent jurisdictions, improve emergency response capabilities and FireSmart communication and education programs, develop laws or policies related to fire risk, and manage hazardous vegetation in the wildland urban interface.