Dear Predator Ridge Residents,
Since 2016, Predator Ridge has consistently earned its Recognized FireSmart Neighbourhood status with FireSmart Canada through the volunteer efforts of the Predator Ridge Community Safety (PRCS) Comittee and many of its residents. Up to now, the community of Predator Ridge has been recognized as one single neighbourhood.
FireSmart Canada has recently handed over management of the FireSmart program to each province. With this change, FireSmart BC has updated the original Neighbourhood Recognition Program, which is now branded as The Local FireSmart Collective Program (LFCP). Click here to learn more about this new program.
Under this new program, the Collective neighbourhoods will be sized at approximately 100 homes. Each neighbourhood will have its own FireSmart Champion(s) who will organize residents for cleanup events, submit grant applications and adopt FireSmart practices within their neighbourhood. If you would like to be a FireSmart Champion for your neighbourhood, you can refer to the FireSmart BC website and contact LFR Elia Nicoloyannis at: firesmartcoordinator@vernon.ca
If you would like to consider taking the online Wildfire Risk Reduction Course, click here.
For Predator Ridge, this means our current single FireSmart Neighbourhood will be divided into multiple Collective Neighbourhoods (Collectives). With approximately 1,000 homes currently built out, this new program would establish approximately 10-11 separate Collectives within Predator Ridge. PRCS will continue to have a FireSmart component with a role in education and support for the community FireSmart initiatives and events. Please refer to the map below of our community showing the proposed Collective Neighbourhoods.
To initiate this new program, our Licensed FireSmart Representative (LFR), under the direction of Vernon Fire Rescue Services, will map the area to determine logical collective areas and undertake an up-to-date Wildfire Hazard and Assessment Report.Â
Activities related to mapping and assessing the area are anticipated to commence within the next two weeks. This will involve FireSmart assessors accessing neighbourhoods throughout the Predator Ridge development. In some cases, this may require members of the Vernon team to walk on private properties.
As this initiative is for the community’s collective benefit, we do not anticipate any objections from residents. However, if you do not wish any of the Vernon Fire Rescue Services team to access (walk on) your property, please contact the Vernon FireSmart Representative (LFR) Elia Nicoloyannis by email at: firesmartcoordinator@vernon.ca
In conclusion, we are proud of the FireSmart program at Predator Ridge, which was one of the first communities in the Southern Interior to adopt FireSmart practices. Climate change is prompting a new approach to mitigating the effects of wildfire. We encourage the community to embrace this approach and become more engaged in preventing and protecting homes from wildfire.
Another resource of interest on the FireSmart BC website is:Â FireSmart Wildfire Exposure Assessment | FireSmart BC Network
Sincerely,
Eamonn DeeganPRCS FireSmart Coordinator
