Protect your home and neighborhood from wildfire embers and flames. Learn how to reduce your risk before the next fire season.
During a wildfire, homes can ignite from radiant heat or direct flame contact, but the biggest threat comes from wind‑borne embers. About 90% of homes lost in wildfires ignite when embers land on or near the structure, and under the right conditions, those embers can travel more than 2 km. With Fredericton’s close connection to surrounding forests and an increasing wildfire risk, reducing ignition zones around our homes is critical. By taking practical steps and working together, we can better protect our properties and our community.
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10 Tips to Keep Your Home Safe
- Complete a self-assessment of your home and property using FireSmart guidance
- Remove combustible material from under decks and keep a 1.5 m non-combustible zone around the house and deck
- Clean and maintain gutters and roofs. Keep balconies clear of leaves and debris
- If possible, store firewood 10 m or more away from your home
- Keep grass and weeds cut below 10 cm
- Plant wildfire resistant vegetation. Avoid flammable plants like cedar, juniper, pine, tall grass, spruce and wood mulch and consider non-combustible materials like crushed stone
- Prune trees to create a two-meter clearance from the ground
- Hold sheds and other structures to the same standards as your home
- Add non-combustible screens to external vents (except dryer vents) to keep embers out
- Have a wildfire evacuation plan for your household. Connect with neighbours and share plans
Home Ignition Zone
The home ignition zone is the area within 30 metres of your home and structures made of three priority areas. The immediate, intermediate, and extended zone. By addressing and removing threats in each area, you can minimize your home and property’s vulnerability to wildfires.
Before Fire Season Begins
- Clear gutters, roofs, decks, balconies, and vents of dead leaves and branches
- Trim trees branches to >2 m above the ground
- Store combustibles like propane tanks away from the home if possible
- Review your emergency plan for your family and pets
- Keep a 72-hour emergency kit at home
- Connect with neighbours and share your FireSmart plans
- Review the home ignition zones and take actions to reduce your properties vulnerability