Firesmart

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"WORKING TOWARDS A FIRESMART COMMUNITY"

FireSmart. Safer communities, healthier forests…
 

BACKGROUND

Historically, vegetation within the Kananaskis Improvement District has developed as a result of a wildfire-dependent ecosystem. Successful fire suppression and fire prevention practices over the past 70 years, and significant human development over the past 30 years, has resulted in significant wildfire threat to human life, communities, and businesses within Kananaskis Improvement District.

The FireSmart program focuses on reducing the threat of wildfire to human life and communities through application of the seven disciplines of wildland/urban interface:

  1. Vegetation management.
  2. Development.
  3. Public education.
  4. Legislation.
  5. Inter-agency cooperation.
  6. Cross-training.
  7. Emergency planning.


GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

Goal. To develop, implement, and maintain a long-term FireSmart program to reduce the threat of wildfire to human life, communities, and businesses within Kananaskis Improvement District within the context of existing management plans and policies.
 
Objectives
  1. Direct and lead the development and implementation of the Kananaskis Improvement District Wildland/Urban Interface Plan.
  2. Support FireSmart public education/awareness initiatives within Kananaskis Improvement District.
  3. Promote community involvement in the FireSmart program.
  4. Develop and support strong partnerships between all stakeholder groups in the municipality.
  5. Secure ongoing funding for FireSmart initiatives through municipal, provincial, and FireSmart Community Grant opportunities.
  6. Identify and present priorities to KID Council for FireSmart Community Grant funding expenditures for approval.
FireSmart helps protect homes and communities from the threat of wildfire. FireSmart uses preventative measures to reduce wildfire threat to Albertans and their communities while balancing the benefits of wildfire on the landscape.
 
Cabin Owners: If you would like a FireSmart Assessment of your lease holding, please fill in an application and submit it to info@kananaskisid.ca.

FireSmart Facts

FireSmart...
  • Can reduce the likelihood of large uncontrollable wildfires in Alberta’s forests.
  • Can improve the habitat for a number of species found in Alberta’s forests.
  • Recognizes the benefit of introducing the controlled application of fire to sensitive and protected areas of the forest (prescribed fire).
  • Is built on partnerships between government, industry and homeowners. Wildfires burn regardless of administrative boundaries.
By working together, we are moving toward a FireSmart Alberta. 
 
 
 


COMMITTEE MEMBERS

Roles
  1. Ensure stakeholder organization/agency needs and operational priorities are identified.
  2. Attend, participate, contribute and communicate effectively at committee meetings, public meetings and FireSmart Open Houses.
  3. To meet the requirements of the grant and identify regional collaboration opportunities.
  4. To encourage and raise private and community support to provide "equity funding” or "in kind” services to match the SRD FireSmart Community Grant funding.
  5. Work cooperatively and collaboratively to achieve consensus.
  6. Support decisions of the Committee and implement decisions of the KID Council. 7. Ensure stakeholder organization/agency represented is adequately informed.

AGENCY/STAKEHOLDER ORGANIZATION REPRESENTATIVE 

KID Council – Darren Robinson (Claude Faerden - alternate)
KID Administration (Recorder) – Julia Millen
Agriculture & Forestry - Forestry and Emergency Response Division – Richard Paton
Environment & Parks - Parks Division – TBC
Environment & Parks - Fish & Wildlife Division – Brett Boukall
Lower Kananaskis Lake/Pocaterra Residents – Derek Small
KID Business – TBC
KID Camps – Earl Emberton (Camp Chief Hector)
Bow Valley/Evan Thomas Residents – Connie Nielson
 

Wildfire Mitigation Strategy

 
 
Members of the Kananaskis Improvement District FireSmart Committee meet on a regular basis. Please visit our reference library for the minutes of these meetings.