Coquitlam highlights proactive efforts to prevent wildfires

Oct. 4, 2022, Coquitlam, B.C.– The City of Coquitlam has been actively involved in several wildfire prevention initiatives to support the safety of its residents and their properties. The municipality released a news statement highlighting their recent efforts.

As demonstrated in the response to the wildfire in Minnekhada Regional Park, quick initial response, inter-agency cooperation and resource escalation, are crucial to supporting an efficient and coordinated fire response, noted the City. Coquitlam credits efforts such as the multi-agency training initiatives held in Ridge Park last year and the Coquitlam watershed this summer for fostering the familiarity and collaboration needed in these situations.

The City of Coquitlam has taken further proactive measures to prepare for wildfires, including:

• Creating a comprehensive plan to protect public and private properties from fires in forests, parks and green spaces. Building on Coquitlam’s existing wildfire prevention work, the Community Wildfire Resiliency Plan is based on FireSmart principles and outlines dozens of actions aimed at reducing wildfire risk and improving the City’s response and recovery if fires do occur.
• A large portion of Coquitlam is considered wildland/urban interface land, meaning that the forest meets the community in some areas. As a result, it is important to establish and maintain fire-safe homes and practice fire-safe behaviours within our community.
• The City’s annual summer fire safety campaign – Don’t Let Our Parks Go Up in Smoke – lays out simple tips to adhere to in order to protect yourself, your family and our community.
• Given that wildfires don’t heed jurisdictional boundaries, the City actively pursues a cooperative approach with other municipalities and agencies – including its participation in the Northeast Sector FireSmart Program with Port Coquitlam, Anmore and Belcarra. The program, funded through a joint $496,900 provincial FireSmart Economic Recovery Fund grant received in 2021, has already reached 7,000 homes (2,000 more than its goal) with door-to-door information on wildfire preparedness.