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Preliminary Assessment of Effectiveness of FireSmart in Jasper

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In July, 2024, the Jasper Wildfire Complex destroyed approximately 358 (32%) of 1,113 structures in the town of Jasper, AB.


On August 16, 2024, Keith Porter, chief engineer of the Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction (ICLR) held a webinar entitled, Jasper Wildfire Complex Initial Observations. Keith had recently been to Jasper as part of a post-fire assessment structure assessment team led by FP Innovations, the Canadian Forest Service, and others. The webinar highlighted some of the preliminary observations and assessments on why some structures in the “front lines” survived while others in close proximity did not. It also summarized keys lessons that can be learned on how to make structures (homes) and communities more fire resistant. You can view the webinar here:


Keith reviewed many of the FireSmart Canada principles and recommendations, and provided statistical evidence supporting the efficacy of various treatments and building modifications. Photographic evidence from Jasper was provided to explain attributes of homes that survived amidst a landscape of destruction. For example, a surviving structure typically had a fireproof/resistant roof, fire resistant cladding and good vegetation management in the immediate (0-1.5 zone surrounding the structure) and the intermediate zone (1.5 to 10 m). The findings that FireSmart-ed homes displayed a significantly higher survival rate is consistent with analyses conducted on other catastrophic fire such Fort McMurray (Alberta), Paradise (California), etc.


It is known that a major source of home ignition is from ember showers which advance in front of a wildfire, driven by voracious winds created/accelerated by the fire itself. Structures ignite when embers fall on vulnerable sections e.g., the roof, decks, a buildup of embers along the base of the structure where it meets the ground. In Jasper, it was noted that a large number of homes burned because of ground fire; embers falling on flammable vegetation such as dry grass, shrubs, evergreen trees and spreading to combustibles around the home, then to the building itself. Hence, the assessment concluded that proper treatments of the immediate and intermediate zone are essential. These treatments, combined with modifications to homes/buildings, can greatly increase the survivability of structures. For example, the following modifications make buildings more fire resistant: fire rated roofing, cladding, decking; enclosed eaves, screened vents and screened/enclosed decks; a 15 cm non-combustible wall strip or flashing where the sides of the house meet the ground, or where walls meet decks and/or dormer roofs; a non-combustible section of fencing adjacent to any wall. It was also shown in Jasper that sprinkler systems helped enormously.


The primary message from the webinar is that FireSmart works! Jasper has long been touted as one of the most fire-prepared communities and it is clear that had the FireSmarting efforts not been carried out, a much higher percentage of structures would have burned. However, it must be a community team effort…one untreated home or property in a sub-division could be the demise of the entire community. A commercial building with an attractive shake roof, can be the source of ignition for a whole street of other businesses. Once a structure catches fire, the game changes and the complexity of dealing with the wildfire becomes overwhelming.


Near the end of the webinar, there was some discussion on how to get better uptake from home and business owners for FireSmart. In most communities, including those in the Yukon, only a very small percentage of the population has engaged in FireSmarting. We need a core number of residents to become the wick for a FireSmart movement. There is a threshold where social pressure can drive the movement. Although it is growing in Whitehorse, we still need a bigger core….and we welcome and encourage you to join! Make FireSmart part of

your lifestyle!

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