Firefighters help prepare you for wild fires

GRAVENHURST — With warm weather expected this weekend — and a yard waste pickup day planned for Saturday — this is the perfect time to remind property owners to be “FireSmart” around your home and cottage.

Home and cottage owners are urged to be prepared for wild fires May 5.

This is grass fire season – as its now known, wildfire season.

May 5 is National Wildfire Preparedness Day and the Gravenhurst Fire Department will be out at various community garden centres to share information and answer questions.

Firefighters will be at theCanadian Tire and Terrys Independent Grocer in Gravenhurst from 10 – 2 pm with free copies of the FireSmart Manual and the FireSmart Landscaping guide.

Come learn how to keep your property safe, meet your local firefighters and tour a fire truck.

“By keeping combustible materials away from our homes, and limiting trees and shrubs in close proximity to our homes, we limit the risk of a wildfire affecting the sanctuary of our own ‘castle’ said Robert King, fire prevention officer.

“FireSmart is a national program that provides us with the knowledge and tools to protect our homes in the event of a nearby wildfire,” he added.

Wildfire is a serious threat throughout Canada – putting neighbourhood, communities, environmental resources, public and firefighter safety at risk every year.  Every home and landowner has a small part to play in keeping our community as safe as possible from wildfire. It was only two years ago this month, that one of the largest wildfires in Canadian history swept through Fort McMurray, Alberta forcing nearly 90, 000 people from their homes.

The FireSmart program utilizes priority zones around your home and provides best practices to help keep it safe from wildfire. For more information about the program please visit: www.firesmartcanada.ca

For more information please contact King at robert.king@gravenhurst.ca

Phone: (705) 687-3414, ext. 223.