Fire Smart Alberta

Council for the Summer Village of Seba Beach would like to promote the Fire Smart Program to Residents. 
Please take the time to review the Fire Smart Manual and assess your home.
Fire Safety is a big part of our life!

Go to: Fire Smart Canada

FireSmart Neighborhood Awareness Workshop

The recording of the FireSmart Neighborhood Awareness Workshop is now ready to be viewed!

Click the FireSmart button for more information on FireSmart!

FIRE HAZARD DEFINITIONS

EXTREME - Large, erratic-behaving wildfires can start quickly and spread extremely fast. High-intensity, fast-spreading wildfires are very difficult and dangerous to bring under control. NO OUTDOOR BURNING SHOULD TAKE PLACE IN AREAS WITH AN EXTREME FIRE DANGER RATING. Fire restrictions are usually in place.

VERY HIGH - Wildfires can start easily, spread rapidly, and increase quickly in intensity. A wildfire that starts in dry grass or slash can develop into a high-intensity wildfire very easily. Outdoor burning is not recommended and fire restrictions may be in effect.

HIGH - Wildfires can start easily from most causes and unattended campfires are very likely to escape. Wildfires may become serious and difficult to control if not successfully contained while small. Outdoor burning should be restricted to early morning or late evening.

MODERATE - Wildfires can start from most accidental causes and spread moderately through dry brush and grasses. Ground crews should be able to contain a wildfire with minimal support from heavy equipment and aircraft. Wildfires not suppressed immediately can still become expensive to extinguish later.

LOW - Wildfires do not readily ignite, unless from a more intense heat source like lightning. Weather and fuel conditions lead to low-intensity and relatively easy-to-control fires. However, caution should always be taken with any type of burning.

FireSmart - What is the Home Ignition Zone?

The Home Ignition Zone (HIZ) is the area within 30 metres of your home and structures. It is made up of three priority areas: The Immediate Zone, Intermediate Zone, and Extended Zone.

The HIZ shows how you can minimize your home and property’s vulnerability to wildland fire by addressing threats in each of the three priority zones, starting with the most vulnerable area, the Immediate Zone, and working your way outward. The HIZ focuses on reducing the opportunity for the spread of flames, and removal of points where embers can gather and ignite objects or buildings. Learn more about the HIZ and how you can reduce your risk, in our FireSmart Begins at Home Guide.

Immediate Zone: 0 – 1.5 metres
The Immediate Zone is a non-combustible area that starts at the house and extends to 1.5m perimeter around the home and attached structures, including decks. Reduce the chance of wind-blown embers igniting your home by starting with these proactive steps:

• Choose non-combustible building materials when constructing or renovating your home.
• Clear vegetation and combustible material down to mineral soil and cover with non-combustible materials like gravel, brick, or concrete.
• Avoid planting woody shrubs or trees. If any are present, prune and maintain them regularly

Intermediate Zone: 1.5 – 10 metres
Elements in the Intermediate Zone are managed so they don’t transmit fire to your home. Here are a few actions you can take to reduce your home’s vulnerability:

• Plant fire-resistant vegetation and select non-combustible landscaping materials.
• Avoid incorporating any woody debris, including mulch.
• Keep combustible items like firewood piles, construction materials, patio furniture, tools, and decorative pieces out of this zone.
• Move trailers, recreational vehicles, storage sheds, and other combustible structures into the Extended Zone. If that’s not possible, store firewood inside your mitigated garage, shed, or other ember-resistant structures.
• Create a non-combustible ground cover, like a gravel pad, underneath and 1.5 metres around trailers, recreational vehicles, and sheds.

Extended Zone: 10 – 30 metres
The goal in the Extended Zone is not to eliminate fire, but to reduce its intensity. If your property extends into this zone, a few important steps you can take include:

For more information on specific steps you can take to FireSmart your home, visit:
https://firesmartcanada.ca/about.../the-home-ignition-zone/

Thanks,
Summer Village of Seba Beach

Fire Station Update

Parkland County indicated it was terminating our joint fire hall agreement in 2018 as it expected to develop a new staffed fire hall in the Wabamun area.  With the completion of this facility, Parkland County will still provide fire protection services to the Summer Village but has withdrawn all fire suppression apparatus from the Seba Beach Station.  Fire response times are expected to improve with the staffed hall in use.  The nearest On-Call Fire Hall is Tomahawk (18km), and the Staffed Fire Hall is in Wabamun (22km).  Reports on responses times are attached for public information below

It is recommended that residents update their insurance to reflect the closure of the Seba Beach Fire Station. Please remember insurance providers may have different ways of evaluating the risk (cost) of this change, but the Summer Village cannot recommend any one provider.  A complete list of licensed insurance companies can be found here: https://www.alberta.ca/about-insurance-companies-alberta.aspx