Carolyn DeFreitas, the new FireSmart coordinator for the City of Terrace, is offering free home assessments to help residents mitigate wildfire risks. These evaluations focus on removing combustible materials and managing vegetation to protect structures from wind-borne embers.
The 1.5-metre buffer and the three-zone defense
The City of Terrace utilizes a tiered strategy to separate homes from potential ignition sources, dividing the surrounding land into three priority zones. According to the report, the first and most critical zone extends 1.5 metres (approximately five feet) from the structure. In this immediate perimeter, Carolyn DeFreitas advises homeowners to remove as many combustible materials as possible, suggesting the replacement of bark mulch with stone or rock to create a non-flammable barrier.
Beyond the immediate perimeter, the second zone extends to 10 metres (roughly 33 feet), focusing on managing vegetation that could carry fire toward the house. The third and outermost zone reaches 30 metres (nearly 98 feet), where broader property management occurs. In this furthest zone, the City of Terrace recommends storing firewood to keep it well away from the primary residence.
From cedar fences to 10-centimetre grass
Identifying specific household hazards is a core part of the training Carolyn DeFreitas completed for her role.. As reported in the source, common risks include cedar fences attached directly to exterior walls, privacy shrubs planted too close to buildings, and propane barbecues positioned against the house. Even small accumulations, such as dry leaves in gutters or debris stored under decks and stairways, can serve as primary ignition points.
Vegetation management is equally critical to preventing a disaster. The City of Terrace recommends maintaining grass at a height of roughly 10 centimetres and pruning tree branches so they are at least two metres off the ground. This pruning prevents "laddering," a process where a surface fire climbs into the tree canopy. Furthermore, the program suggests planting leafy deciduous trees over highly flammable conifers, such as pine, which contain resins that increase fire risk during dry spells.
The 2025 wildfire resiliency plan and the threat of embers
A primary objective of the City of Terrace's strategy is the mitigation of "firebrands," or embers.. These burning materials can be carried by the wind for several kilometres, meaning a home can ignite even if the main wildfire has not yet reached the immediate neighborhood. These embers often land on roofs, decks, or firewood piles, sparking fires from the top down or from the perimeter inward.
The city has integrated these concerns into its 2025 wildfire resiliency plan, which is available on the City of Terrace website. This document outlines completed planning work and identifies specific vulnerabilities that require further attention. However, the report does not specify exactly which neighborhoods or infrastructure points are listed as the most vulnerable in the 2025 plan, leaving a gap in public knowledge regarding the highest-risk areas.
A two-year grant and the Kitimat-Stikine gap
The current FireSmart initiative in Terrace is funded through a two-year grant, which pays for the employment of Carolyn DeFreitas. This temporary funding model raises questions about the long-term sustainability of the program; it remains unclear how the City of Terrace intends to maintain these assessments once the grant period expires.
There is also a significant geographic limitation to the current program, as assessments are only available to those within municipal boundaries. This creates a disparity for residents in the surrounding region. The regional district of Kitimat-Stikine has identified the need for its own FireSmart coordinator as a priority, suggesting that the demand for wildfire preparedness is outstripping current regional resources. until the Kitimat-Stikine regional district secures its own expert, residents outside city limits must rely on the broader provincial FireSmart British Columbia program for guidance.
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