City starts FireSmart work
Wooded area south of Parker Park to be focus of summer effort
Shane Magee
Northern News Services
Friday, June 12, 2015
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
The start of several years of work to help defend the city from forest fires began this week.
Stephen Schmalz, a city summer student with the city, uses a rake to collect leaves and debris during a FireSmart demonstration Tuesday along the McMahon Frame Lake Trail. - Shane Magee/NNSL photo |
More than one dozen workers from both the city and Environment and Natural Resources were trimming low limbs, cutting down dead trees and raking up fallen debris from sections of woods along the McMahon Frame Lake Trail. The small areas along the popular walking trail between city hall and Matonabee Street marked with signs will serve as a demonstration to the public of what FireSmart work looks like.
FireSmart is the name of a national program designed to proactively reduce the danger of fires to communities.
City officials hope the display will inspire property owners to do similar work around their homes.
Dennis Marchiori, the director of public safety, said FireSmarting does not mean clear-cutting an area.
A city crew of two will spend this summer and potentially part of next summer FireSmarting a larger area south of Parker Park along the edge of the Frame Lake South neighbourhood, which is considered the area most at risk for fires approaching the city.
Should a fire put a neighbourhood at risk, residents would be evacuated and will stay in the Multiplex and Fieldhouse and would sleep on cots and mattress pads.
Crews carrying out the work were given training beforehand. In choosing the area to FireSmart, an assessment of the area is carried out looking for wildlife or bird nests. Trees with nests are left in place.
FireSmart work around the city could take several years to carry out and it depends on city council budgeting more funding.
The city allocated $100,000 for FireSmart work this year. That includes $30,000 for sprinkler kits, some of which can be mounted to the roof of a home, $20,000 for water lines and $50,000 for labour.
"It has to be done before the flames show up," said Westly Steed, a wildland fire prevention co-ordinator with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.
FireSmarting a section of woods won't stop a massive fire, but will slow the spread of a smaller fire and reduces the material available to burn.
"It gives us a fighting chance," said city fire chief Darcy Hernblad.
It also makes it easier for firefighters to spot fires when responding and allows for easier maneuverability.
The chief noted the department often gets called to homeless camps in wooded areas where fires flare up, but thick underbrush make the fires hard to find.
More information about how to FireSmart a property can be found at nwtfire.com.
