Tiny embers falling to cedar hedges and clogged eves pose a bigger risk to communities like Kamloops than a wall of flames from a wildfire.

“Embers can typically cast two to three kilometres ahead of the fire,” said Kathleen Cahoon, the City’s FireSmart liaison. “Even if you’re not on the edge of urban/wildland interface, you maybe have the risk of an ember landing in your yard.”

If that ember lands in a deciduous tree like a maple, there’s a good chance a fire won’t start, she said. If one lands in a cedar, the density of their limbs and foliage will most likely ignite, especially given how dry the region is.

This is why Kamloops Fire and Rescue and the province’s FireSmart program worked together to create the Community Fuel Reduction Incentive, which launched earlier this year. Josh Cowen, KFR’s life and safety educator said the program is funded through the Climate Action Fund at about $80,000 a year for the next four to five years with the focus on removing cedar trees and hedges, which pose a big risk to homes and property when a fire breaks out, especially if they are within a metre and a half of a home or other structure.

“They are like matchsticks,” said Cowen.

Two hundred and thirty people applied for the program within the first two days of launch, said Cowen. This year’s full allotment of funding was spent within the first month and a half, prompting a second bump in cash for it to continue through the year.

Cowen said there are three steps to the program. The first sees residents apply to have cedars removed from their property. Step two involves Cowen doing an assessment of the home owner’s property, at which point an amount of money is allocated for removal of the foliage. The third step has the homeowner removing the cedars themselves, or hiring someone to do it for them. This must be completed sometime between 30 and 90 days.

The program provides $150 for the first tree and up to $800 for up to eight trees. Cahoon said a photo is taken before the cedars are removed and an after photo must be provided in order to receive the rebate.

Cedars aren’t the only risk to home and property. The types of decking, siding and roofing people use can make a big difference in terms of fire safety, said Cahoon. So can storing tires, gas cans and lumber next to a home.

“Let’s take away that fuel and then we can mitigate a bit of that risk,” said Cowen.

All this can sound daunting to a homeowner, but Cowen and Cahoon said everything doesn’t need to be done at once. Homeowner can check firesmartbc.ca to learn more about how they can FireSmart their homes.

Residents are also encouraged to download the Voyant! app for the City’s latest emergency alerts and notifications.