FireSmart

Radium Hot Springs sits in a wildfire-interface community, where neighbourhoods meet forests Wildfire seasons are becoming longer and drier, and the risk to homes and communities is growing. 

A common misconception is that homes catch fire from the flames of the fire itself. In reality, most homes are ignited by embers carried ahead of the main fire, a phenomenon known as spotting or ember transport.

Embers can be carried up to two kilometres ahead of a fire. This means that natural features many people assume will protect them, including wetlands, rivers, lakes, and even roads and highways, do not stop ember travel. By the time a fire is visible, embers may already be landing in gutters, on decks, and in the vegetation around your home.

FireSmarting your home and property significantly reduces the chances of ignition. This work needs to happen at both the individual and community level to be effective.

Small, targeted actions around your property make a measurable difference. Start with the areas closest to your home and work outward:

• Clear dead leaves, pine needles, and debris from your roof, gutters, and deck regularly. These are the most common ember landing spots.
• Create a non-combustible zone of at least 1.5 metres immediately around the perimeter of your home.
• Remove or prune trees and shrubs within 10 metres of your home, keep branches trimmed up at least two metres off the ground, ensure trees are well-spaced and away from your roofline.
• Stack firewood inside, or alternatively at least 10 metres away from, your home, not against the wall or under the deck.
• Use fire-resistant materials for decking, fencing, roofing, and other exterior finishes where possible.
• Plant leafy deciduous trees, not evergreen conifers which are more prone to burn
• Do not use bark mulch as a landscaping feature.
• Talk to your neighbours. A FireSmart neighbourhood is more resilient than any single property.

Free FireSmart assessments are available to homeowners and businesses in Radium Hot Springs. A qualified FireSmart professional will walk your property with you, identify vulnerabilities, and provide a personalised list of recommended actions. Assessment information is kept confidential.

Completing an assessment is also the first step to accessing the Rebate Program. Once your assessment is done, eligible mitigation work can be reimbursed for 50% of expenses incurred, up to a maximum of $5,000. Work must be identified on your assessment and completed in priority order; for example, immediate zone work (0 to 1.5 metres from the home) must be completed before rebate payments will cover intermediate zone work (1.5 to 10 metres). Work completed before your assessment is not eligible. Available on a first come first served basis. 

Click the link below to register or contact the Radium Hot Springs FireSmart Coordinator.

For more information on the FireSmart Assistance Program, contact the FireSmart Coordinator.

In 2026, the FireSmart neighbourhood program transitioned from the Neighbourhood Recognition Program to the Local FireSmart Collective Program (LFCP). The new program introduces a four-tier system to track and celebrate progress, with financial incentives and recognition available at each tier. The LFCP is more inclusive than its predecessor, welcoming not just homes and properties but also parks, campuses, and businesses.

Elk Park Ranch is the first neighbourhood in Radium Hot Springs to achieve recognition as a FireSmart BC neighbourhood, a significant achievement for the community.

To participate, a neighbourhood needs a Neighbourhood Champion who rallies neighbours, coordinates with the FireSmart Coordinator, and guides the group through the program. Neighbourhoods involved in the program can typically apply for grants ranging from $500 to $1,000 during the late fall and winter.

If you are interested in getting your street or neighbourhood involved, contact the FireSmart Coordinator to get started.

Learn more about the program:

Annual Community Chipping Day

Each spring, the Village offers a free Community Chipping Day, allowing residents to have combustible yard debris chipped and removed from their properties. Watch Village news and social media for the annual date announcement.

Local FireSmart Collective Workshop

The workshop is open to all residents who have concerns about wildfire protection and are willing to collaborate with their neighbours. No prior knowledge or experience is required. Participants learn to recognise wildland-urban interface fire hazards and develop action plans to reduce the risk of home ignition in their neighbourhood.

To register your interest or learn more, email the FireSmart Coordinator at firesmart@radiumhotsprings.ca with your name, phone number, street address, and email address.

• FireSmart BC: firesmartbc.ca
• FireSmart BC Landscaping Hub: firesmartbc.ca/landscaping-hub/
• Home Ignition Zone Self-Assessment: firesmartbc.ca/resource/hiz-self-assessment/
• FireSmart Research Corner: firesmartbc.ca/research-corner/
• BC Wildfire Service: bcwildfire.ca

Contact the FireSmart Coordinator for FireSmart programming and with questions about protecting your property from wildfire.

FireSmart Coordinator: Steve Levitt

• Phone: 250-341-7506 
• Email: firesmart@radiumhotsprings.ca