WAIPAROUS FIRESMART NEWS

Transcription

1 WAIPAROUS FIRESMART NEWS Fall 2016 FireSmart Actions Preparing for Winter. If you only have time to do a few of things this fall focus on these 5 things: 1. Clear trees and shrubs of dead materials and keep them pruned. Cut down tall dried grass. 2. Ensure that wood burning chimneys are screened to prevent escape of live embers. 3. Clean out the eaves troughs and roof of leaves branches, and twigs. 4. Remove spruce cones and fine fuels away from buildings use rakes and blowers. 5. Check your property address sign to ensure it is clearly visible for responding emergency crews to see. Wildfire Evacuation Exercise May 6, 2017 In conjunction with the 2017 Wildfire Preparedness Day, the Summer Village of Waiparous Emergency Management Committee is planning on conducting a Wildfire Evacuation exercise. We need residents to come forward and assist us with our Emergency Social Services Plan and Exercise. If you are interested in helping out, please contact the Village Office at admin@waiparous.ca In preparation for the exercise we are asking everyone to review your emergency phone numbers. The Village maintains a list of phone numbers to call in the event of an emergency. Many people are giving up their land lines and changing over to cell phones. Please let us know if any of your phone numbers and contacts have changed over the past year. *The Emergency Broadcast Phone System for the Summer Village of Waiparous is a best attempt to notify residents via telephone in the event there has been deemed an emergency affecting the Summer Village as issued by the Director of Emergency Management or Council. Although we have experienced high accuracy in calling to registered phone numbers, we do not guarantee that the system will contact each phone number this system is a best attempt only. 2016/17 FireSmart Activities Fuel Reduction Project The Summer Village of Waiparous is putting together the Request for Proposals for the 2016/17 Fuel Reduction Project. The project this winter will take place on the road right of way along Hummingbird Lane and on the Village owned lot situated on the corner of Chickadee Road and Forestry Trail. Depending on contract rates, we may be able to do some additional work on other Village lands and road right of ways. Prescribed (Controlled) Burn Last spring Waiparous undertook their first Prescribed Burn as an activity to reduce the risk of wildfires. All burning last year was restricted to the west side of the Summer Village. Work is underway to design a plan that focuses on a controlled burn on some of the road right of ways on the east side of the Summer Village. The FireSmart Committee is working with Forestry, MD of Bighorn, Ghost River Fire Department, 911 and other mutual aid emergency responders to create the Plan. More details to follow as planning progresses. Fire Certificates REMINDER if you have not received a Fire Certificate for your fire pit, outdoor fire receptacle or outdoor fireplace, you are not permitted to use it. There is a zero tolerance, so if you don t have a fire certificate, make sure everyone using your property is aware that they are not to start of fire. To check specifications, refer to the Fire Safety Bylaw and FireSmart web pages at waiparous.ca Thank you Thank you to residents that are continuing to FireSmart their own properties. Another great Woodchipping project this past summer, means more fire fuels have been removed. Resources Check out the Waiparous FireSmart website for some excellent reading and videos on FireSmart Waiparous FireSmart Committee Members Joleen Molenaar Matt Sundal Jason Marks

2 WAIPAROUS FIRESMART NEWS Summer 2016 Fire Bans and Restrictions at Waiparous Waiparous has lifted the Fire Ban that was declared on May 4, Please continue to watch local signage and the Alberta fire bans website for updates. If conditions change, restrictions or bans may be declared. The Summer Village may issue any of the following: Fire Advisory an advisory is meant to inform residents that there is a high fire danger and there may be a certain type of restriction on burning. It could simply be a warning that a more restrictive fire ban may be coming if the situation does not improve. An advisory may be issued for a short term safety concern ie. major wind events. Fire Restriction provides for a restriction to certain types of burning while other types of burning may still be allowed. It is very important to read the detail of a fire restriction as they can vary depending on the situation. Fire Ban normally a ban will be used to restrict or prohibit most or all types of outdoor fires. Sign up to receive advisories of Alberta Fire Bans Wildfire Community Preparedness Day -TBA The Fire Smart Committee is planning to reschedule the Wildfire Community Preparedness Day events to a later date. Please watch for further details! 2016 Prescribed Burn On April 16, 2016 The Summer Village of Waiparous Fire Smart Committee, with the participation and support of the Ghost River Fire Department and Alberta Agriculture and Forestry held their first prescribed (controlled) burn. The burn occurred of lands outside the west boundary of the Summer Village (adjacent to Willow Drive and Spruce Lane) and along Highway 40 north side ditch (from Aspen Circle to Ghost Place. Did you know that a fire can be good for people and the land? An ecosystem that needs periodic fire becomes unhealthy. Flammable fuels build up and become hazardous. The right fire and the right place at the right time: Reduces surface and ladder fuels that contribute to increased risk of uncharacteristically severe wildfire; Help to safely protect the community from wildfire; Help protect natural resources such as timber and critical habitat; Promotes native species and reduces encroachment of invasive species; Reduces hazardous fuels, protecting human communities from extreme fires; Minimizes the spread of pest insects and disease; Recycles nutrients back into the soil Promotes the growth of trees, wildflowers and other plants; Improves firefighter ability to safely and effectively respond to and suppress wildfires Fire Specialists write burn plans for prescribed fires. Burn plans prescribe the best conditions under which plants will burn to get the best results safely. Burn plans consider temperature, humidity, wind, moisture of the vegetation and conditions for the dispersal of smoke. A fire specialist compares conditions on the ground to those outlined in burn plans before deciding whether to burn on a given day. Waiparous FireSmart Committee Members Joleen Molenaar Matt Sundal Jason Marks Larry Anderson

3 Prescribed Burn near Willow Drive BEFORE AFTER DURING 3 WEEKS LATER FIRE POLICE AMBULANCE REPORT FOREST FIRES 310-FIRE (3473) - FIRE BAN INFO

4 evacuation of residents in the event of a wildfire. The mock disaster exercise will take place in the fall. The Fire Smart Committee thanks Tom McFadden and the Ghost River Fire Department, Stefan Best and Kevin Topolnicki and the Forestry Wildfire Team, Waiparous residents Pierre Thiffault, Darrell Eveson, Don Soul and Mark White and volunteers Ken Birkett, Gord Kutt and Sharon Plett for participating in the April 16 th event. Fire Pit / Portable Fire Receptacle Outdoor Fireplace Certificates Our Fire Guardians have inspected all fire pits, portable fire receptacles and outdoor fireplaces in the Village. This year, non-combustible aprons with a minimum width of 61 cm, surrounding all fire pits, portable fire receptacles and outdoor fireplaces are mandatory. The Grandfather clause that many have been operating under over the past years, deals with the dimensions and location of the actual fire pit, portable fire receptacle or fireplace. The need for a minimum 61 cm apron is required to keep your fire pit, portable fire receptacle and/or fireplace safe. Please note that you may only use your fire pit, portable fire receptacle and/or outdoor fireplace if you have a CURRENT certificate and there is no Fire Ban or Fire Restriction in effect. If you did not receive a certificate last fall, please review the letter you received carefully to determine what needs to be remedied prior to re-inspection. Once you have met the conditions of the letter, please contact the Village Office for re-inspection. If possible, forward a current picture of your fire pit, portable fire receptacle and/or outdoor fireplace with your request. If you have questions, please contact the Village Office. A copy of the Fire Safety Bylaw is available for viewing on the Village Website. Mock Disaster Evacuation Exercise As we prepare for the exercise, please consider if there have been any changes to your contact phone numbers. The Summer Village has an Emergency Phone Broadcast System that is used in the event of an emergency threatening the Village and its residents. It is very important that everyone s phone numbers for calling and/or texting is included in the system. Please advise the Village Office of any changes and/or additions to your phone numbers. Landlords, please make sure to submit your renter s phone numbers. If you have any questions please contact the Village Office admin@waiparous.ca ( ) *The Emergency Broadcast Phone System for the Summer Village of Waiparous is a best attempt to notify residents via telephone in the event there has been deemed an emergency affecting the Summer Village as issued by the Director of Emergency Management or Council. Although we have experienced high accuracy in calling to registered phone numbers, we do not guarantee that the system will contact each phone number this system is a best attempt only. Hints when preparing for an evacuation Stay calm, keep your family together Gather pets and secure them in a safe location ready to go Park your vehicle in the direction of escape and know where your car keys are Keep your radio on and phone lines open to listen for emergency alerts When advised to evacuate Do so immediately! Follow instructions and exit safety. Sign up for Emergency Alerts at: /signup.html This year s mock disaster exercise will focus on evacuation. The team is currently reviewing the emergency plan and procedures surrounding an FIRE POLICE AMBULANCE REPORT FOREST FIRES 310-FIRE (3473) - FIRE BAN INFO

5 WAIPAROUS FIRESMART NEWS Spring 2016 Current Weather Conditions Be Aware The lack of snow cover, warm temperatures and drying winds have created the perfect opportunity for grass fires to occur. 1. Be mindful of ATV and equipment use, ensuring dry grass is not caught up around exhausts. 2. When burning in a fire-pit be aware of embers escaping into surrounding areas. (burning is permitted only in fire pits with a current certificate) FireSmart Actions - Spring 2016 In preparation for warmer weather, avoid spring fire hazards by spending a day in your backyard to make sure that all fire hazards are removed. 1. Prune back trees and foliage from around your home. (check tree variety for best time to prune) Please join us for the annual Wildfire Community Preparedness Day at the Waiparous Community Services Facility. This year s event will be a joint event hosted by the Waiparous FireSmart Committee and the Ghost Waiparous Trails Association - Firesmart sub-committee. The focus of this year s event will be on Education and Awareness for Summer Village residents and residents in the surrounding residential areas of Ghost Country Place, Pears Place and other interested neighbours. Tentative Line-up of Events Noon 1:00 pm Bar-B-Que (follows the Ghost Waiparous Trails Association meeting to be held in the morning) 1:00 3:00 pm Education of Wildfire Behavior and Wildfire Prevention may include videos of wildfire behavior, keynote speakers, local fire department, etc. Watch for more details 2. Take a look around your home, garage, garden and shed to remove clutter and debris. Make sure to maintain a clear access for the fire department at all times, remove clutter that may impede their access. 3. Barbeque season is near check the condition of all hoses and connections to make sure they aren t damaged, inspect propane cylinders for rust or damage and ensure all connections are correctly tightened on the barbecue before lighting. Make sure your barbecue is cleaned to remove any leave or debris that may have built up over the winter, use the correct start up and shut down procedures. 4. Start working on the conditions of your recent fire pit inspection report getting it ready for re-inspection. Contact the Village Office when you are ready for re-inspection. Waiparous FireSmart Committee Members Joleen Molenaar Matt Sundal Jason Marks Larry Anderson

6 Friends Helping Friends Event Last month a group of Waiparous residents, with the support of the Firesmart committee, organized a Friends Helping Friends Event to assist a resident that was very interested in firesmarting their property. A big thanks to the residents who participated in the Friends Helping Friends Workbee last month. Waiparous residents are true Partners in Protection Fire Pit / Portable Fire Receptacle Outdoor Fireplace Certificates Our Fire Guardians have inspected all fire pits, portable fire receptacles and outdoor fireplaces in the Village. This year, non-combustible aprons with a minimum width of 61 cm, surrounding all fire pits, portable fire receptacles and outdoor fireplaces are mandatory. The Grandfather clause that many have been operating under over the past years, deals with the dimensions and location of the actual fire pit, portable fire receptacle or fireplace. The need for a minimum 61 cm apron is required to keep your fire pit, portable fire receptacle and/or fireplace safe. Please note that you may only use your fire pit, portable fire receptacle and/or outdoor fireplace if you have a CURRENT certificate. If you did not receive a certificate this fall, please review the letter you received carefully to determine what needs to be remedied prior to re-inspection. Once you have met the conditions of the letter, please contact the Village Office for re-inspection. If possible, forward a current picture of your fire pit, portable fire receptacle and/or outdoor fireplace. If you have questions, please contact the Village Office. A copy of the Fire Safety Bylaw is available for viewing on the Village Website. How do we reach you during an emergency event? The Summer Village has an Emergency Phone Broadcast System that is used in the event of an emergency threatening the Village and its residents. With Wildfire season approaching, it is very important that everyone s phone numbers for calling and/or texting is included in the system. Please advise the Village Office of any changes and/or additions to your phone numbers. Landlords, please make and submit your renter s phone numbers. If you have any questions please contact the Village Office admin@waiparous.ca ( ) *The Emergency Broadcast Phone System for the Summer Village of Waiparous is a best attempt to notify residents via telephone in the event there has been deemed an emergency affecting the Summer Village as issued by the Director of Emergency Management or Council. Although we have experienced high accuracy in calling to registered phone numbers, we do not guarantee that the system will contact each phone number this system is a best attempt only. Back 40 FireSmart Plan The Councils of Waiparous and Bighorn recently approved the Back 40 FireSmart Plan. A copy of the Plan is available on the Village website in the FireSmart Section. Thanks to everyone who attended the January 30 th Firesmart Workshop on Fire Pits and the GWTA Open House on the proposed Back 40 Firesmart Plan. FireSmart Website Check out the Summer Village s FireSmart pages on the website There is a lot of great information on firesmarting your property.. Keep checking back.we are continually adding more FireSmart information. FIRE POLICE AMBULANCE 911 FOREST FIRES 310-FIRE (3473) FIRE BAN INFO