How to Keep Your Home Safe during a Dry Spell

The Lower Mainland, West Vancouver and the Sunshine Coast are experiencing one of the dryest summer and fall seasons on record.  We're currently at Level 5 drought conditions which is the most severe designation.  Water reservoir levels are low and there's no immediate sign of rain coming any time soon. 

What does that have to do with home owners?  It means fire risk is extremely high.  If you have dry grass, bushes and trees next to your home, deck and outbuildings, you and your home are more vulnerable to the quick spread of flames.  We're seeing fires breaking out in neighbourhood parks, green spaces and ditches.  All it takes is an errant cigarette butt, careless use of fireworks, spark from a firepit ... what may not be a big deal under normal conditions, really matters now.

So along with passing on the fireworks this year, you might want to make a point of cleaning out eaves and flower beds of dry leaves and twigs, cover your outdoor firepit and chimney with a mesh screen and keeping your grass a little shorter this fall. 

For more tips on managing safety during wildfire season, see FireSmartBC.ca