Fire risk reduction around your home or business

It is the responsibility of residents and businesses to reduce the risk of wildfire to their properties. With a changing climate, the threat of wildfire has increased significantly for everyone. We all have a part to play when it comes to preventing wildfire and reducing risk.

Using FireSmart^TM techniques is recommended to reduce the risk of wildfire to your home and community. FireSmart^TM Canada is a national program that helps Canadians increase neighbourhood resilience to wildfire and minimize its negative impacts. Parks Canada is an active member of FireSmart^TM Canada.

Residents and businesses must have a permit to remove vegetation for FireSmart^TM purposes. Your home or business location will determine who you contact.

• Residents and businesses within the Town of Banff must visit FireSmart^TM Banff for details on the removal processes. Banff residents can reach out to the Town of Banff for more information related to FireSmart^TM within the town boundary.
• Outlying commercial accommodations (OCA) within Banff Field Unit can contact banffpark.development-banffpark.developpement@pc.gc.ca for information.
• Residents and businesses, including OCAs, within the Lake Louise, Yoho, and Kootenay Field Unit  must follow the steps outlined below.

How to get started

Step 1: Visit FireSmart^TM Canada to learn more about FireSmart^TM. Here you can gain a better understanding of FireSmart^TM guidelines and techniques for clearing vegetation on your property.

Step 2: Download and complete the FireSmart^TM Project Description Form (PDF, 360 KB).

Typical contents of a vegetation removal project description plan:

• Project location (civic Address, coordinates, lot number and/or name of OCA).
• Prescription for zones.
    Parks Canada typically recommends:
  • Removal of all vegetation within the Immediate Zone (0 to 1.5 m from structures);
  • Removal of all conifer shrubs/trees within the Intermediate Zone (1.5 m to 10 m from structures);
  • Thinning of all age classes of conifers to allow 3 m of spacing between tree crowns (from branch tip to branch tip) and pruning lower branches to a height of 2 m from the ground (smaller trees may require a lighter pruning) in the Extended Zone (10 m to 30 m* from all structures). *For OCAs, consider extending this zone out to 100 m.
  • In all zones it is recommended to clear vegetation a minimum of 3 m away from propane tanks.
• Timing of tree removal. All projects occurring within the migratory bird nesting season (April 15 to August 31) will require a tree nesting survey to be conducted by a qualified professional.
• Who will undertake the work — Homeowner/business owner? Certified arborist? Wildfire risk reduction contractor? Fire crew?
• How will work be completed? Mechanical equipment? Chainsaw and/or other hand tools?
• How will debris be disposed of? Pile and burn (max. pile size 2 m by 3 m); chip and/or haul of branches? In the Community of Lake Louise, chips and/or branches may be disposed of at the Wastewater Treatment Plant.
• A map showing the project area, and which trees (and species of tree) are slated for removal. On larger projects a map showing the 3 FireSmart^TM zones combined with the prescription for each zone may be more suitable.

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Step 3: Send your completed FireSmart^TM vegetation removal plan to the Parks Canada Townsites Office: llyklotissementsurbains-llyktownsites@pc.gc.ca

Step 4: The Townsites Office will coordinate consultation on your FireSmart^TM vegetation removal plan with all other Parks Canada departments and provide approval and next steps.

Step 5: Parks Canada will issue a Restricted Activity Permit for tree removal.

Parks Canada recognizes that creating a FireSmart^TM property is more than vegetation removal. However, vegetation removal is an important first step. If you wish to make other FireSmart^TM changes to your building or property, please email the Townsites Office with an explanation of the work you want to complete. The Townsites Office will review and advise on the level of permitting required. Items such as changing roofing materials will require additional permits.