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Opinion: How to protect your home from wildfires, according to FireSmart BC

The recent wildfire above Depot Road in Squamish came dangerously close to homes—an experience that hit especially hard for one local journalist with a personal history of fire loss.
Indigo Lemay-Conway
Indigo Lemay-Conway
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Smoke from Squamish's Dryden Creek wildfire.Photo by Jillian A. Brown / @jillianabrownphotography

Editor's note: As of June 26, more than two weeks after it started, the Dryden Creek wildfire remains under control, but not declared out.

Crews continue to monitor lingering hot spots.

BC Wildfire Service is asking the public, for the safety of first responders, to respect trail closures implemented as a result of the fire.

The District of Squamish state of emergency remains in place as do the evacuation orders and alerts, as the aftermath of the fire and its hazards are investigated.

The Dryden Creek wildfire may no longer be considered a threat to nearby homes, but the reality of how close it came to residential destruction is likely to remain front of mind for many.

While fires around Squamish in the warmer months are no rarity, our beautiful mountain town has been lucky to avoid major damage from them.  

But when the fire broke out above the eastern end of Depot Road during the afternoon of June 9, it felt like everything could change. 

As a journalist, it is our job to follow the news and so when word spread of the fire, our small but mighty team here at The ¾¢±¬´ó¹Ï quickly jumped into action to find out what we could. 

Little did I expect to learn that the fire—which would grow from five hectares in size all the way up to 59.5 hectares in days—would be scarily close to where I was pet-sitting for the month. 

For some background, when I was 18 years old, the home that I spent my entire childhood in burned down in a fire. 

Afterwards, for insurance purposes, my family and I had to walk through what remained of the property to identify all of the things that had been lost. 

And while a wildfire didn’t cause it—it was determined to be caused by an electrical fault—seeing your home completely gutted of all its memories, is a feeling I wouldn’t wish upon anyone. 

The harsh reality of how devastating fire can be only really hits home when something you know and love is destroyed by it. 

So like many others living in the Garibaldi Highlands, when I heard there was a wildfire slowly making its way towards our new temporary home, I was immediately struck with fear. 

But thanks to the amazing efforts of local firefighters and first responders, no homes were damaged, even as the blaze grew. 

So, how can you help protect your property from a wildfire? Well, according to FireSmart BC there are three quick and easy things you can do. 

1. Clean your roof and gutters: Combustible debris like branches, leaves, and pine needles burn easily when embers come in contact with them, so it’s important to make sure your roof and gutters are completely cleared of these materials.

2. Safely store combustibles: Firewood piles, patio furniture, propane tanks, and toys can act as fuel for a wildfire when they’re stored close to your property. To reduce your risk, move all combustibles 10 to 30 metres away from your home.

3. Mow and water your lawn: A healthy lawn is a fire-resilient lawn. This wildfire season, keep your grass cut below 10 cm. If possible, ensure your lawn is watered and hydrated (while following all applicable water restrictions) to further reduce risk.

If we all do our part in being fire smart, we are one step closer to protecting the lands (and our homes) from wildfires. It’s the least we can do.

A big thank you to everyone who has helped get the Dryden Creek wildfire under control. You are our local heroes!