Terrace is well-positioned to start preparing for the threat of wildfires in our community and pursue next steps to help residents mitigate wildfire danger.

The Community Wildfire Resiliency Plan (CWRP) identifies Terrace as a low to moderate wildfire risk. That's not bad, but nothing to get complacent about.

When the CWRP was presented to City Council on Tuesday, June 17, Councillors asked the following questions

1. How is the FireSmart program and FireSmart Coordinator role funded? Who is applying for the grants?"
The FireSmart program and position is funded through the Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM). The City of Terrace's Fire Chief/Emergency Coordinator applies for the grant.

2. Why are private residences NOT shown on the figures/maps?
UBCM requires the CWRP to only show public land.

3. How will staff accomplish directives identified in the CWRP, with the constraints of limited staffing and budget limits.
In the first year of the Terrace FireSmart program, we have focused on education and prevention. Once the CWRP is approved by UBCM, we will start to address mitigation and fuel management within the community.

4. Does city staff train for emergency scenarios specific to wildfire? Do we have unified command?
The Terrace Fire Department engages with BC Wildfire Service for ongoing training. Additionally, Terrace Fire Department, BC Emergency Health Services and the RCMP participate in Unified Command and practice wildfire scenarios regularly.

The CWRP is now being reviewed by a Prevention Officer at BC Wildfire Service as well as the Union of BC Municipalities.

Once approved, the City of Terrace will be able to apply for a second year of FireSmart funding. We hope the CWRP will be approved this summer, and we can apply for the second year of funding in the fall of 2025.

Next steps after that, include the continuation of public education and FireSmart events, as well as offering support for homeowners to FireSmart their properties.

As the Terrace FireSmart program grows, we want to hear from you, to help us set direction and plan programs and activities.

FireSmart is a program dedicated to wildfire prevention, preparedness and mitigation within our local communities. FireSmart recommendations are based on scientific evidence that suggests changes to the built environment are the best and most cost effective ways to increase a home's survivability from wildfire.

The Terrace FireSmart Program is a locally focused FireSmart program led by the Terrace FireSmart Coordinator.

Complete the FireSmart survey

There's a few ways you can take the survey:

• Complete the FireSmart survey online
• Download the paper version of the survey, print it and complete it; then return it by mail, or in person to: City Hall, 3215 Eby St., Terrace, BC,V8G 2X8;
• Pick up a paper version of the FireSmart survey at City Hall, Public Works or the Sportsplex; then return it by mail, or in person to: City Hall, 3215 Eby St., Terrace, BC,V8G 2X8.
  

The purpose of this survey is to learn more about what Terrace residents know, and want to know, about the City’s FireSmart program. This survey is for anyone who lives in Terrace and area. It should only take a few minutes to complete.

The deadline to complete the survey (online or paper version) is May 31, 2025.

Thanks for doing your part to prevent wildfires!

Questions

If you have any questions about this survey, please contact:

Kim Service
City of Terrace FireSmart Coordinator
3215 Eby Street Terrace, BC V8G 2X8
Phone: 250-638-4734 (Non-Emergency Number)
Email: firesmart@terrace.ca

We've been working hard over the last few months to move the Community Wildfire Resiliency Plan forward.

The first draft of the Community Wildfire Resiliency Plan (CWRP) will be ready by the end of March 2025. The draft will be reviewed by partners and stakeholders in the area, as well as City Council. The BC Wildfire Service will complete the final review. We will share the plan once it is finalized.

As a result of working with partners throughout this process, we have formed the Community FireSmart Resiliency Committee. This committee will better enable neighboring agencies to share information and collaborate on projects. The Committee includes representatives from:

• City of Terrace
• Regional District of Kitimat-Stikine
• Kitsumkalum First Nation
• Kitselas First Nation
• BC Wildfire Service

This plan and this committee are just a couple examples of many initiatives the City of Terrace is taking to be better prepared for and prevent the impacts of wildfires.

City of Terrace FireSmart Coordinator Kim Service (right) at the farmers market, talking to the public, with Gabriel Courchesne-Normandin of the BC Wildfire Service.As we develop the Community Wildfire Resilency Plan (CWRP), we will engage with a number of parties. This includes but is not limited to:

• City of Terrace staff (various departments)
• Regional District of Kitimat-Stikine
  • Emergency Program Coordinator
  • Thornhill Fire Department
• Kitsumkalum First Nation
• Kitselas First Nation
• Provincial Government
  • BC Wildfire Service (Prevention Officer, Skeena Zone staff, etc)
  • BC Timber Sales (BCTS) Wildfire recovery team
• Emergency Management BC (EMBC)
• First Nations Emergency Services Society (FNESS)
• BC Parks

Topics of discussion and potential areas of collaboration include the history of wildfires in the area, fuel management projects, identified wildfire risk areas and any specific areas of concern. We will also gather input on draft recommendations. The aim is for the report not to be created in silo.

A couple specific examples of working together include fuel mapping with BCWS, and interagency emergency coordination between the City of Terrace, EMBC, RDKS, Kitsumkalum and others.

We will also engage the public through various means, for example, a survey, and public education and information sharing - such as a booth with BCWS at the Skeena Valley Farmers Market.

Any and all engagement work will revolve around the following seven FireSmart disciplines:

1. Education
2. Emergency Planning
3. Vegetation Management
4. Legislation
5. Development
6. Interagency Coordination
7. Cross Training

Want to know more about what the Community Wildfire Resiliency Plan is all about.

Download the one-page overview - and please share!