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Wildfire Protection
Wildfire protection and mitigation projects
The 2020 Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) is an analysis of the overall wildfire risk in North Cowichan. The risk was determined to be moderate to high and is expected to increase in the future with climate change. Implementing the CWPP recommendations over time increase wildfire resilience through a variety of strategies to proactively reduce wildfire risk in North Cowichan
Related links:
- North Cowichan Fire Department
- Learn more about air quality
- FireSmart BC
- Learn more about fire protection
North Cowichan Wildfire Mitigation Projects
2022 Mount Tzouhalem Fuel Management
Fuel hazard reduction treatments started in Spring 2023 and will be completed in the fall of 2023. This initial treatment area features high risk forests near homes, future development, and high public traffic areas. Further treatments will take place over the next several years to complete the entire identified treatment area on Mount Tzouhalem.
2021 Wildfire Risk Reduction Project
The scope of the 2021 wildfire risk reduction project includes three components:
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1. Wildfire risk reduction treatment plans for municipal land (also referred to as fuels management prescriptions): The prescriptions set out objectives and strategies to reduce the wildfire risk on Municipality-owned forested areas adjacent to homes or other important infrastructure in three high-risk areas identified in the Community Wildfire Protection Plan. |
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2. FireSmart assessments of critical infrastructure: The assessments quantify wildfire risk for infrastructure that is critical to the functioning and resilience of the community. Once quantified, small and targeted interventions can be planned to reduce the wildfire risk. |
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3. Development of a Wildfire Development Permit Area and associated guidelines for private property development and construction within high-risk wildfire areas: The development permit area will create a framework allowing the municipality to work with private property undergoing development towards more wildfire resilient developments. |
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Learn more
Visit the interactive project page to learn more about North Cowichan wildfire protection projects.
FireSmart BC
Summer wildfire seasons are becoming the norm in BC. FireSmart your home and property to be better protected and resilient in the event of a wildfire, and find out how to protect yourself, family, and pets by visiting firesmartbc.ca.
Related links:
- Emergency Management Cowichan has regional information for people living in the area. https://emcowichan.ca/preparedness-planning/wildfires-air-quality-burning/
Community members
Community members were invited to attend four virtual public information sessions to learn more and ask questions about the wildfire risk reduction treatment plans, FireSmart assessments, and the wildfire development permit area. Three of the public information sessions were focused on each one of the wildfire risk reduction treatment areas. A fourth information session focused on the wildfire development permit area. Please see video recordings of these session below:
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PUBLIC INFORMATION SESSION 1: Mt. Tzouhalem
Watch the recording of this presentation at: https://youtu.be/h8SV5pxwKJs |
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PUBLIC INFORMATION SESSION 2: Maple Mountain
Watch the recording of this presentation at: https://youtu.be/6OxxUrtbsbM |
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PUBLIC INFORMATION SESSION 3: Mt. Richards
Watch the recording of this presentation at: https://youtu.be/bOdgkfyDqnc |
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PUBLIC INFORMATION SESSION 4: Wildfire Development Permit Area
Watch the recording of this presentation at: https://youtu.be/VL2qq6-S7uI |
