THE FIRE SMART PROGRAM WAS IMPLEMENTED ABOUT 6 YEARS AGO TO DETERMINE THE RISK OF WILDFIRE WITHIN OUR MUNICIPALITY. THE PROGRAM INVOLVED THE COMPLETION OF A SURVEY OF EACH PROPERTY INCLUDING CIVIC ADDRESS, PHOTOS AND GPS COORDINATES. THE INFORMATION WAS RECORDED AND STORED USING THE FIRESMART/REDZONE SOFTWARE. THE LONG RANGE PLAN WAS TO USE THE INFORMATION TO ESTABLISH A PLAN TO REDUCE THE LIKELIHOOD OF A MAJOR AND DEVASTATING WILDFIRE. OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS, THE MUNICIPALITY HAS BEEN WORKING ON A COMMUNITY WILDFIRE PROTECTION PLAN (CWPP) IN CONJUNCTION WITH MANITOBA CONSERVATION AND THE OFFICE OF THE FIRE COMMISSIONER AND THE INFORMATION GATHERED UNDER OUR FIRE SMART PROGRAM IS AN IMPORTANT ASPECT OF THE CWPP.

DURING THE SUMMER OF 2011 THE MUNICIPALITY WILL BE UPDATING THE INFORMATION IN THE FIRE SMART DATABASE AS THERE HAVE BEEN SOME SIGNIFICANT CHANGES TO PROPERTIES (NEW DWELLINGS, OWNERSHIP CHANGES, LANDSCAPING) THAT SHOULD BE UPDATED. TWO INDIVIDUALS WILL BE GATHERING THE NECESSARY INFORMATION BY VISITING EACH PROPERTY. WE ANTICIPATE THAT THE PROJECT WILL BEGIN IN LATE JUNE AND BE COMPLETED BY THE END OF AUGUST. THE POTENTIAL RISK OF A MAJOR FOREST FIRE SHOULD BE OF CONCERN TO ALL STAKEHOLDERS AND WE ARE REQUESTING EVERYONE'S FULL CO-OPERATION IN ASSISTING OUR STAFF TO COMPLETE AN ACCURATE ASSESSMENT OF EACH PROPERTY.

THERE ARE TWO DOCUMENTS RELATING TO THE MANAGEMENT OF WILDFIRE RISKS PRODUCED BY THE PROVINCE WHICH MAY BE OF INTEREST TO OUR PROPERTY OWNERS AND BOTH ARE AVAILABLE ON OUR WEBSITE FOR VIEWING OR DOWNLOADING. THE FIRESMART LANDSCAPE BROCHURE IS A GUIDE RELATING TO LANDSCAPING PRACTICES THAT PROTECT YOUR HOME FROM WILDFIRE AND THE FIRESMART MANUAL PROVIDES INFORMATION ON PROTECTING YOUR HOME FROM WILDFIRE.TO ACCESS THESE DOCUMENTS PLEASE SELECT THE DOCUMENTS DOWNLOAD TAB, CLICK ON REPORTS & MISCELLANEOUS DOCUMENTS AND SELECT THE ITEM YOU WISH TO VIEW OR DOWNLOAD.