My
name is Josh Kester and I am the Wildfire Mitigation Specialist for Area E/West
Boundary. We are beginning to drive the FireSmart program in the Regional
District of Kootenay Boundary, and it begins with property owners partaking in
the Free FireSmart Home Assessment Program. This is a completely FREE exterior
only assessment that is digitalized and customized to the property owner’s
structures and land. These assessments are strictly voluntary and under no
circumstances is the owner required to complete the recommendations. This is
for education purposes. There are multiple benefits to completing the
recommendations, though which include potential insurance premium reductions,
maintaining insurance, and increasing your properties survivability against a
wildfire.
The
FireSmart Home Partners Program aims to actively involve property owners,
including those residing in strata buildings, in voluntary wildfire mitigation
activities. We offer a professional home assessment with personalized
recommendations, specifically tailored to each property. This program is
provided completely free of charge and presents an opportunity for property
owners to mitigate their properties against wildfire. Our assessment process
effectively evaluates the vulnerability of a home or building, along with its
surrounding property, to wildfire risks, while engaging owners in understanding
their unique risks and strategies to minimize them.
During
the assessment, we thoroughly inspect the exterior of the structure and
property, considering factors such as the presence of a 1.5-metre
non-combustible surface around the entire structure and attached additions like
decks, the adequacy of exterior vents to prevent the entry of blowing embers,
and the proximity of the building to slopes within a 10-meter range. The
assessment typically takes between 45 minutes to 1 hour, depending on the size
of the property. We can conduct assessments on individual houses, units, or
entire complexes. The resulting report is delivered digitally and includes
site-specific photographs, providing specific recommendations for property
owners to implement to mitigate their properties against wildfire.
The
Wildfire Mitigation Specialist and the owner arrange a convenient time to meet
on-site, but if you cannot be there, the report can be completed, and I will
follow up to discuss the findings. During the meeting, we conduct multiple
walks around the property to identify potential hazards and provide
recommendations.
Subsequently,
I will compile the report, prepare the final copy, and send it to the
homeowner. This process not only identifies potential risks but also helps
homeowners develop a better understanding of wildfire behavior, as viewed
through the eyes of a Wildfire Mitigation Specialist. Our aim is to encourage
proactive measures in mitigating properties against wildfire.
If
this is something you are interested in you can sign up here https://www.firesmartapp.ca/application/BC3AF
email me at wms3@rdkb.com,
or contact me on my cell phone at 236-968-3853.
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