This event has already taken place.
FireSmart Information Session
On June 13th at 6:00pm, Councillor Devine will be hosting a FireSmart Information Session at the Nepean Sportsplex. Residents in Merivale Gardens and The Glens are already aware of the fire safety issues concerning dried out fallen tree debris in Pinhey Forest, especially as we enter wildfire season. As the NCC owns and maintains this land, the City of Ottawa is limited in the actions it can take in this area.
Recently, our office enlisted the support of Ottawa Fire Service (OFS) to help address safety risks regarding Pinhey Forest. The OFS issued a letter to the NCC earlier this spring and has since learned that the NCC has made Pinhey Forest one of three priority areas for removal of fallen vegetation, with a goal is to have the work completed by spring of 2025. The map below indicates the priority areas of Pinhey Forest.
FireSmart is a national program to address wildfire concerns in the wildland urban interface. The mission is to enhance neighborhood resilience to wildfires and minimize their negative impacts. The program provides practical tools for homeowners, residents, businesses, and communities to reduce wildfire risk. Residents can take specific actions to make their homes more resilient to wildfire. These actions include vegetation management, fire-resistant building materials, and creating defensible space.
Ottawa Fire Services and its partners from the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) and the National Capital Commission (NCC) collectively apply the principles of the FireSmart Program to identify key locations around the city where residents, neighbourhoods, and communities could be at risk of wildland-urban interface fires. Using the FireSmart principles, Ottawa Fire Services aims to empower homeowners to take steps to collectively provide wildfire prevention and safety.
This free information session will take place on June 13th from 6:00pm – 8:00pm at the Nepean Sportsplex, located at 1701 Woodroffe Avenue. The event will be in the Richmond Room, which is accessible via Entrance 4 at the rear of the Sportsplex.