Appendix
Attachment A: View Royal FireSmart Program - Summary of Activities
February 11, 2025Pages 211–21410 sections
A detailed list of completed activities including education sessions, community planning, and residential home assessments.
12 Wildfire Mitigation Program Home Assessments conductedOver 124 m3 of invasive plants removedFull-time FireSmart Coordinator hired
View Royal FireSmart Program - Activities Completed
The Town of View Royal Community Wildfire Preparedness project funded by the 2023 UBCM CRI FireSmart Community Funding and Supports grant began in February 2023 when the grant was awarded. Since then, the following key activities have been completed.
Page 211–214
STAFFING
- Hired a full-time FireSmart Coordinator (FSC)
Page 211–214
EDUCATION
- Completed FireSmart Information Sessions for View Royal neighbourhoods and community groups including local stratas, the View Royal Community Association, and the View Royal Gardening Club (upcoming in February).
- Conducted community engagement at Thetis Lake Park, WestShore Swap, Shop and Market and at the annual View Royal Fire Department (VRFD) Pumpkin Smash event.
- Developed a FireSmart webpage with various resources on the Town of View Royal's website (www.viewroyal.ca/firesmart).
- Met with and delivered FireSmart educational materials to residents in area north of Thetis Lake in a high-risk area of the district's Wildfire Urban Interface (WUI).
- Delivered FireSmart educational materials to local shops and businesses within View Royal to be available for free for customers.
- Developed FireSmart public education articles posted in the Town of View Royal's e-Newsletter and print newsletter.
- Developed FireSmart articles posted in local media (Goldstream Gazette, Saanich News).
- Researched upcoming View Royal community events and signed up for local community newsletters.
- Created FireSmart and fire safety public education messaging shared via social media channels, the Town of View Royal website and the View Royal Fire Rescue digital signboard.
- Developed and delivered FireSmart door hangers (using the FireSmart BC template) warning residents of wildfire risks to their homes.
- Ordered FireSmart educational and promotional materials for information sessions, events, and other activities.
- Had FireSmart vehicle decals installed on the two VRFD utility vehicles to help promote visibility and awareness of the program in the community.
- Ordered a custom built FireSmart Model Home for public education, awareness, and community engagement events (currently being built).
- Promoted the Community Wildfire Preparedness Day including available award funding ($500).
Page 211–214
COMMUNITY PLANNING
- Reviewed previous Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) and Status of Recommendations from the Plan.
- Collaborated with B.A. Blackwell on the development of a new Community Wildfire Resiliency Plan (CWRP) which is nearly complete.
- Connected with the Town of View Royal's Engineering and Parks Department on the FireSmart Program, CWRP, Water Storage Tank Setup and Community Clean Up Events.
- Connected with the Town of View Royal's Engineering and Parks Department for internal stakeholder input on the CWRP.
- Connected with the Town of View Royal's Engineering Department and Bylaw Department regarding the Urban Forest Strategy and Tree Protection Bylaw and opportunities to incorporate FireSmart principles.
- Collaborated with the Town of View Royal's GIS Technician on GIS Data requirements for the CWRP.
- Connected with British Columbia Wildfire Service (BCWS) on the Technical Review for the CWRP and partnering on a Wildfire Preparedness Workshop.
Page 211–214
INTER-AGENCY CO-OPERATION
- Regular active participation in the Greater Victoria Community FireSmart and Resilience Committee (CFRC).
- Met with FireSmart Coordinators (FSCs) in other districts to learn more about their FireSmart Programs.
- Collaborated with other FSCs on regional projects and initiatives (e.g. FireSmart programs, regional video, jackets).
- Met with representatives from CRD Parks and First Nations regarding the FireSmart program and CWRP.
- Hosted the November 2024 monthly Greater Victoria CFRC meeting at View Royal Fire Rescue.
- Secured Canadian Tire View Royal as a new FireSmart Plant Partner and who will be launching the FireSmart Plant Program with the launch of their newly renovated garden center.
- Connected with the View Royal Gardening Club to participate in the launch of the new FireSmart Plant Program at Canadian Tire View Royal.
- Registered and will be attending the 2025 FireSmart Wildfire and Resiliency Training Summit (Apr 2025)
- Connected with BC Hydro on the FireSmart Program, CWRP, Pike Lake Substation and Vegetation Management.
Page 211–214
DEVELOPMENT CONSIDERATIONS
- Connected with the Town of View Royal's Development Department on the FireSmart Program and the Official Community Plan (OCP).
- Connected with the Town of View Royal's Development Department for internal stakeholder input on the CWRP.
- Reviewed proposed Wildfire Development Permit Areas (DPA) for Town of View Royal.
- Reviewed the Tree Protection Bylaws for the Town of View Royal and the City of Langford.
- Reviewed the DPAs documentation for the City of West Kelowna and Resource Municipality of Whistler referencing FireSmart principles.
Page 211–214
EMERGENCY PLANNING
- Toured the north side of View Royal (north of Thetis Lake) and other priority residential areas of the district's Wildland Urban Interface including the area east of Highland Road (Riverside Drive), West Park, Nursery Hill and Chilco/Thetis Vale.
- Visited Malahat Fire Department to review their Type 2 Structure Protection Unit (SPU) and water storage setup on top of the Malahat.
- Developed a plan for a remote water supply with (2x 5,600 cisterns and a 20' container) for a priority area within the WUI which is without hydrants.
- Initiated the planning for a Structure Protection Program.
- Met with Town of View Royal's Engineering Department and toured Highland Road to assess the road condition and identify improvements needed for emergency access and egress.
- Completed the JIBC Emergency Operations Center Essentials Course.
- Attended a session by View Royal Emergency Support Services (ESS) and Emergency Radio Teams on Evacuations, ESS operations and Emergency Communications.
- Participated in Emergency Planning scenarios with View Royal Emergency Planning Team.
- Developed a Wildfire Preparedness Workshop (to be delivered in Feb 2025).
- Developing a Wildfire Tabletop Scenario (currently in development).
Page 211–214
TRAINING
- Hosted the FireSmart Wildfire Mitigation Specialist (WMS) training course at View Royal Fire Rescue for fourteen participants from ten different fire departments.
- Completed the FireSmart WMS course and certification as a FireSmart Wildfire Mitigation Specialist.
- Completed the JIBC Fire and Life Safety Educator 1 course and certified as a Fire and Life Safety Educator 1.
- Completed the SPP-WW1 Wildfire Training course.
- Coordinated the offering of the FireSmart 101 course as part of the December 2024 monthly drill for fire department crew with seven crew members completing the course.
Page 211–214
RESIDENTIAL
- Conducted 12 Wildfire Mitigation Program Home Assessments.
- Developed and launched a Mobile Chipping Program and conducted a Mobile Chipping Event in Oct 2024 to residents in high risk areas (another two scheduled in Feb and in Mar).
- Developed and delivered postcards to promote the Mobile Chipping Event.
- Identified View Royal Parks as potential locations for future mitigation/community clean up events.
- Met with Green Teams Canda regarding a potential Community Clean Up Event for Spring 2025.
- Met with View Royal Habitat Restoration Project regarding a potential Community Clean Up Event for Spring 2025.
- Met with Shoreline School Outdoor Education Program on the FireSmart Program and potential Community Clean Up Event with student for Spring 2025.
- Promoted the FireSmart Neighbourhood Recognition Program and Rebate Program to neighbourhoods and stratas.
- Secured a neighbourhood for the FireSmart Neighbourhood Recognition Program (3 other neighbourhoods also interested).
- Initiated the planning for a Residential Reflective Address Sign Program.
- Tested a drone for potential use for Wildfire Mitigation Program Home Assessments (to assess roofs, gutters etc.).
- Reviewed and conducted testing on the new Wildfire Mitigation Program (WMP) Platform and submitted feedback to WMP Support.
- Article on WMS training course hosted at View Royal Fire Rescue published in Goldstream Gazette News and Saanich News (Oct 2024).
- Two articles on the free FireSmart Home Assessments offered through the View Royal FireSmart program published in Goldstream Gazette News (Nov 2024, Jan 2025)
Page 211–214
OTHER
- Applied for the 2024 UBCM Community Emergency Planning Fund (CEPF) Grant.
- Applied for the 2024 Wawanesa Community Wildfire Prevention Grant.
Page 211–214
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Extracted from: 2025 02 11 Committee of the Whole Agenda - Agenda - Pdf