Coldstream Proceeds With Interface Plans

The District of Coldstream is moving forward with it’s Community Wildfire Protection Plan.

Staff are applying for two Fuel Management Grants totaling 28-thousand dollars for the Red Gate area along Kidston Road and Whisper Ridge to undertake interface fire threat reductions.

Mayor Jim Garlick says municipality will also contribute 7-thousand towards the fuel management program.

“Development has gone into the forest more and we are just going to address that. Some of it on Kidston Road is in Kal Lake Park, so we have to work with Parks Staff to come up with some plan to do that.”

Garlick notes council is also considering implementing a new development permit with interface fires in mind.

“The other thing we were discussing last night is a possible development permit for homes looking at materials used on homes just to make them a little more fire proof.”

Garlick says doing all they can to reduce the risk of interface fire and eliminate fuels that can drive it are crucial.

“The wildfire too doesn’t have to be right in your community. They look at a two kilometre distance out from your homes because they said that’s how far the embers can travel in a wildfire.”

If the grants are approved, the fuel reduction work will be undertaken this coming summer.