Use isolation to prepare your home for wildfires

A Thompson-Okanagan city and fire department are urging residents to use this period of self-isolation to protect their home from potential wildfires.

The release comes at the same time when crews are monitoring a five hectare fire in Chase.

The City of Kamloops and Kamloops Fire Rescue reminds residents to keep their homes clear of flammable materials. It is recommended that homeowners remove any trees, bushes or other flammable materials within ten metres of their home, and to take appropriate steps to protect their fences and other structures on the property.

Lawns should be regularly mowed and irrigated, and any plants surrounding the house should meet the FireSmart guidelines.

It is recommended that roofs are made with fireproof material and eaves kept clean. Decks should be enclosed with non-flammable material, so no embers or other debris may fall and cause a risk. Soffits and vents should also be enclosed so embers cannot enter them.

Firewood should always be at least ten metres from your house, especially during wildfire season.

For more information and tips on how to protect your home, click here.


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Jenna Wheeler

Jenna Wheeler

Jenna Wheeler is a writer at heart. She has always been naturally curious about what matters to the people in her community. That’s why it was an obvious decision to study journalism at Durham College, where she enjoyed being an editor for the student newspaper, The Chronicle. She has since travelled across Canada, living in small towns in the Rockies, the Coast Mountains, and tried out the big city experience. She is passionate about sustainability, mental health, and the arts. When she’s not reporting, she’s likely holed up with a good book and her cat Ace.