Consultants report highlights 47 steps
The city has a major to-do list when it comes to mitigating the threat of a major wildfire.
For the first time since 2011, updates are being made to the Community Wildfire Protection Plan, with 47 new recommendations highlighted in a consultant's report.
Speaking to council on Monday, consultant Bruce Blackwell talked about tightening requirements for development permits, to make homes safer.
He says a big part of that has nothing to do with the actual structure.
"Require a landscaping plan, and provide an acceptable list of plantings," he said.
"We're still getting plantings that aren't appropriate. I think the developers need to focus on putting the right landscape plan together, so that we get the right vegetation."
Along with regulating building materials and vegetation, he says more logistics must be considered.
"We need to focus on creating two access/egress points. Many of your new developments I looked at – one way in, one way out. Fort McMurray waiting to happen all over again, in terms of trying to get people out of there," he said.
"Just this weekend, there was a 25 hectare fire in Mackenzie. It blocked access in and out of Mackenzie. This is happening more frequently than we want to talk about."
He also acknowledged that while many recommendations won't help homes that are already built, he says he's got an idea that will.
"Ultimately, you won't like this recommendation, but I think it's an important one. I think we need to be able to prescribe burn some of these grass areas, both at the initial treatment stage, and as a regular maintenance," he said.
"That's going to save you money, it's going to be an effective treatment, but it may mean asking people to leave their homes on weekends, or during certain days when you burn. But if we don't find a way to start controlling this grass, we're going to accumulate a significant hazard here."
He says the other major hurdle is getting private land owners to make FireSmart changes, especially on undeveloped sites, like much of the forest between Knox Mountain Park and the city's northern limits.
The report's recommendations will be considered by city staff, who will figure out how and how many they want to implement.
