The aftermath of the fire in the cedar hedge near the Earls restaurant in Sahali. (Photo via Emily Pearson)
Kamloops Fire and Rescue is expanding a free wood chipping program – that is offers in partnership with the City – to include residents in Barnhartvale and Aberdeen Glen Village on Howe Road in Pineview.
KFR Life Safety Educator Jeff Pont says the two neighbourhoods are considered to be at “high risk” for wildfires.
“When we put out the Juniper program, we actually had quite a few residents from Barnhartvale call us and request this service, so we’re happy to provide it for them,” Pont told Radio NL.
“As for the Howe Road trailer park, it tends to be a little bit older demographic in there and the building construction is a little less fire resistant, so we’d like to get in there and empty that neighbourhood of cedars if we can.”
Pont says crews will be working in the trailer park on June 27, with no limit on the number of people who can avail of the service. They’ll then head into Barnhartvale on July 23, with the service limited to the first 20 homeowners who register.
“The idea is to make the areas safer and less prone to wildfire risk and obviously with anything we do, we have financial limitations and staffing limitations,” Pont said. “We’re just sitting at the table as a group of people trying to get the biggest bang for our buck so to speak and this is the strategy we came up with.”
If you live in Howe Road trailer park, or Barnhartvale, you’re eligible for free cedar chipping.
Call 250-320-7641 for more information. pic.twitter.com/DKhPH4Wc7c— Kamloops Fire Rescue (@KamFire) June 13, 2024
He says homeowners should remove their cedars and it put by the curb so crews can take it away. The City says any cedar hedge or juniper under 6 in. in diameter can be chipped.
“Registered properties must note that this offer is exclusively for cedar hedges and junipers,” the City said, in a statement. “Other materials, including stumps, will be left behind. A crew will arrive on the scheduled day to perform the chipping. Homeowners do not need to be home.”
The decision to expand the wood chipping service comes after the fire near the Earls restaurant in Sahali late on Monday night.
While its not clear what caused the fire, it started in the cedar hedges in front of the restaurant and spread along the front of the patio area before it was extinguished.
Pont says people can register by calling or texting him at 250-320-7641.
