Over 6,500 wildfires burned through Canada in 2023, during the most destructive fire season on record. With 18.5 million hectares scorched, the impact was felt from coast to coast and in the north. In light of increasingly hot, dry summers, experts are urging people across the country to take steps to protect their properties and help stop the spread.
There are measures homeowners can take to reduce the risk of property damage, according to FireSmart Canada, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and other leading fire-safety agencies.
A key step in making your home fire-resistant involves guarding against embers. The reality is that most homes do not ignite from direct contact with flames from wildfires. In fact, it’s estimated that 90% of homes are destroyed indirectly by embers that are carried by the wind. If you live near a forest, these tips can be effective, as evidenced by some houses that survived wildfires in Fort McMurray in 2016 and Maui last summer.
However, even if you don’t live near a forest, some of these tips might also help reduce damage to your home if a neighbour’s house catches fire.
Improve your Home Ignition Zone (HIZ)
According to a FireSmart Begins at Home Guide, the HIZ is space around your house you can modify to minimize fire risk. The Immediate Zone includes your home, attached structures and the area extending 1.5 metres from there. The Intermediate Zone stretches from 1.5 to 10 metres, which should take priority as it’s a crucial buffer against fire risk. Here’s what to do:
Clear away vegetation
It’s fuel for fire. Swap flower beds against the house for a 1.5 metre, non-combustible hardscape area using materials such as pea gravel, pavers, flagstone or concrete. Get rid of plants, organic mulch, yard trimmings and all flammables close to your house and deck. FireSmart landscaping offers more advice.
Stay abreast of exterior maintenance
Cut grass shorter than 10 centimetres, replace flammable plants with fire-resistant ones, prune and thin vegetation and routinely clear debris.
Move what burns
Relocate firewood, propane tanks, construction materials and anything ignitable so it’s at least 10 metres away from your house.
Eliminate entry points
Keep embers out by screening vents and screen your gutters to limit accumulation of debris. Make sure your home’s pet door is properly sealed and keep it closed during fire season. While you’re at it, fix any gaps in your home’s siding.
Check the deck
Clear yard waste and flammable materials from under the deck and sheath the underside with a fire-resistant material. If the deck is wood, replace any rotten or cracked boards and, better yet, when your budget allows, replace it all with a fire-rated surface.
Assess windows and doors
Seal cracks in frames and keep windows and doors closed as much as possible during wildfire season. When it comes time to replace your windows or doors, choose multi-pane, tempered glass windows and non-combustible or fire-rated doors and garage doors.
Inspect your roof
Clear the rooftop and gutters of leaves, branches and debris, then caulk any cracks and replace missing or loose shingles. When it’s time for a new roof, choose Class-A, fire-rated roof material such as metal, asphalt, slate, clay or concrete. The difference is huge, as statistics show wildfire structure survival is four per cent for a flammable roof with no treatment or defensive action compared to 90 per cent for a non-combustible roof combined with mitigation measures in the HIZ. Learn more via FireSmart Canada’s Home Development Guide.
Keep learning
To find out what else you can do, in the Intermediate and Extended Zones and beyond, check the National Fire Protection Association’s Preparing Homes for Wildfire.