We often refer to Red Deer as a city within a park. And while all those trees make Red Deer a beautiful place to live, it also creates a risk for urban wildfires. While the risk is minimal, there are things you can do as a homeowner and resident to prevent fires and protect your home, especially if you live along one of our forested or grassland areas.

What can I do as a homeowner?

• Employ Firesmart principles.
  1. Maintain a minimum of 3 metres of horizontal space between evergreen trees.
  2. Clear branches lower than 2 metres from the ground.
  3. Regularly clean up fallen branches, dry grass and needles.
  4. Plant fire-resistant vegetation and void woody debris, i.e. bark mulch.
  5. Use non-combustible landscaping materials.
  6. Learn more at firesmartalberta.ca
• Ensure you’re always using fire pits safely.
• Install smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms on every floor of your home.
• Keep a sprinkler in an easy-to-access location.

What can I do as a resident?

• Always be careful when smoking outside, and use a deep, sturdy ashtray to discard of smoking materials. Never extinguish smoking materials into a potted plant or other combustible materials.
• Obey local fire bans when they are in place.
• Subscribe to emergency alerts, have an emergency kit ready to go, and be ready for an evacuation by having a plan.

What is The City doing?

Annually, The City conducts urban forest fire mitigation efforts during the winter months. This fire prevention work happens in key areas throughout Red Deer’s urban forest where crews reduce the fuel load by clearing deadfall and removing dead or dying trees. Learn more about where crews are working at Urban Forest Fire Mitigation.

Where can I learn more?

Learn more about preventing and responding to wildfires by visiting the Government of Alberta’s emergency preparedness page.