Wildfire Mitigation Project

The Municipality of North Cowichan analysed its wildfire risk in the 2020 Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP). The overall wildfire risk in North Cowichan was determined to be moderate to high and is expected to increase in the future with climate change. The project described on this page was launched in 2021 to respond to several of the Community Wildfire Protection Plan’s recommendations. This work will support wildfire resilience through a variety of strategies to proactively reduce wildfire risk in North Cowichan. 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.

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. Firesmart materials and resources are available for residents at Municipal Hall!

  

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.

  

Learn more

You can learn more about all three project components and find up-to-date information about the project by visiting the interactive project page (click on the thumbnail below).

 

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:

PUBLIC INFORMATION SESSION 1: Mt. Tzouhalem
Wednesday, November 3 from 7:00-8:30 p.m. 

 

Watch the recording of this presentation at: https://youtu.be/h8SV5pxwKJs 

PUBLIC INFORMATION SESSION 2: Maple Mountain
Monday, November 22 from 7:00-8:30 p.m.

 

Watch the recording of this presentation at: https://youtu.be/6OxxUrtbsbM 

PUBLIC INFORMATION SESSION 3: Mt. Richards
Tuesday, January 18 from 7:00-8:30 p.m. 

 

Watch the recording of this presentation at: https://youtu.be/bOdgkfyDqnc 

PUBLIC INFORMATION SESSION 4: Wildfire Development Permit Area
Wednesday, January 26 from 7:00-8:30 p.m. 

 

Watch the recording of this presentation at: https://youtu.be/VL2qq6-S7uI 

Questions?

Questions about this project can be directed to Shaun Mason by phone 250-746-3124 or email shaun.mason@northcowichan.ca 

Related projects

The Municipality of North Cowichan is currently engaging community members on the future management of the Municipal Forest Reserve. This is part of the Council directed technical review of forest management practices being conducted by the UBC Partnership group. You can find out more about the Forestry Review at www.northcowichan.ca/forestry

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