FireSmart Canada's research-based approach focuses on the home ignition zone: the 30 metres around a house where embers and flame decide whether it survives. The work is practical, and most of it is within an owner's control.
- Immediate zone
- 0 – 1.5 m
- Intermediate zone
- 1.5 – 10 m
- Extended zone
- 10 – 30 m
- Wildfire season
- Mar 1 – Oct 31
The home ignition zone
| Zone | Distance from the home | The goal |
|---|---|---|
| Immediate | 0 – 1.5 m, including attached decks | Non-combustible: clear vegetation and combustibles down to mineral soil and cover with gravel, brick or concrete |
| Intermediate | 1.5 – 10 m | Nothing that carries fire to the house: lean, green, well-spaced planting and no fuel piles |
| Extended | 10 – 30 m | Not to eliminate fire but to reduce its intensity: thin and prune trees, remove ladder fuels |
FireSmart's guidance is specific about the small things: move firewood piles and sheds out to the extended zone, keep the area under decks clear, and treat an attached deck as part of the house.
The house itself
Many homes lost to wildfire are ignited by wind-blown embers rather than direct flame. Roofing, gutters full of needles, open vents and combustible decking are where embers find purchase. When you view a treed property, look at the roof covering, the soffits and vents, the deck material and what is stored beneath it. These are often inexpensive to improve — and useful to know before insurance quotes arrive.
Fire season and permits
Alberta's wildfire season runs from March 1 to October 31. During it, all burning in the Forest Protection Area, other than campfires, requires a fire permit. Municipalities can add their own rules and fire bans inside and outside that area, so check with the county before burning brush piles. Report a wildfire at 310-FIRE (3473).
Buying a treed acreage
Look at the property from the fire's point of view: the slope below the house, the continuity of the trees to the walls, the second exit route, and the water available for firefighting. Ask your insurer early whether the location or construction affects coverage or cost. None of this makes a forested acreage a poor choice; it makes it a property that rewards an owner who manages it.
Your checklist
- A clear, non-combustible 1.5 m band around the house and deck
- No firewood, fuel or combustible storage within 10 m
- Trees thinned and limbed in the 10 – 30 m zone
- Roof, vents, gutters and deck assessed for ember resistance
- Insurance availability and cost confirmed before firming up
- County fire bylaws and permit rules for brush burning
How Dusko uses this
On forested listings Dusko walks the home ignition zone with sellers before photography, because a FireSmart-ready yard is both safer and easier for a buyer to insure.
Questions buyers ask
What is the FireSmart home ignition zone?
It is the 30 m around a home, in three parts: the Immediate Zone from 0 to 1.5 m, the Intermediate Zone from 1.5 to 10 m and the Extended Zone from 10 to 30 m. In the Extended Zone, the goal is to reduce fire intensity, not eliminate fire.
Source: The home ignition zone
What should be within 1.5 metres of my house?
Nothing that burns. FireSmart Canada advises clearing vegetation and combustible material down to mineral soil around the house and attached decks, covering it with gravel, brick or concrete, and moving firewood piles and sheds out to the Extended Zone where possible.
Source: The home ignition zone
When is wildfire season in Alberta?
March 1 to October 31. Report a wildfire at 310-FIRE (3473), and check current conditions on the province's wildfire status page.
Source: Get a fire permit · Wildfire status
Do I need a permit to burn brush on my acreage?
In the Forest Protection Area, yes: from March 1 to October 31, all burning except campfires needs a fire permit. Municipalities can set their own rules and fire bans inside and outside that area, so check with your county before lighting a brush pile.
Source: Get a fire permit