Mechanical fuel management to reduce wildfire risk on rural and interface properties. We clear brush, remove ladder fuels, and thin overgrown stands to create defensible space — giving firefighters room to work if the worst happens.
FireSmart principles drive the work. Priority Zone 1 is the area within 10 meters of structures — that gets the most aggressive treatment. We remove all combustible vegetation, thin trees, and clear deadfall. Priority Zone 2 extends to 30 meters and gets thinned and cleaned. Beyond that, we reduce fuel loads to slow a fire's approach.
The CAT 289D High-Flotation Track Loader handles brush mulching and material clearing. We mulch standing brush, remove ladder fuels (the low branches that carry ground fire into the canopy), and thin overgrown stands to create spacing between crowns. The goal is to break the fire's path from ground to canopy to structure.
After the 2017 and 2018 fire seasons in the Cariboo, wildfire mitigation went from optional to essential for rural property owners. Insurance companies are asking for it. The BC Wildfire Service recommends it. And property owners who lived through those summers know exactly why it matters.
We handle the mechanical side — the heavy clearing, mulching, and material removal that hand crews can't do efficiently. We can work in tandem with hand crew operations or handle the full scope depending on the site.
Clearing and thinning around rural homes to meet FireSmart guidelines. The first line of defense when a fire approaches.
Fuel reduction around ranch buildings, hay storage, and infrastructure. Protect the operation from interface fire.
Multi-property and community-level fuel reduction programs. We work with local FireSmart coordinators.
Fuel management work required by insurers as a condition of coverage in high-risk interface zones.
Clearing fire-damaged timber and debris after wildfire. Site cleanup and preparation for rebuild or replanting.
Wildfire mitigation for residential clients across the Cariboo — 100 Mile House, Williams Lake, Lac la Hache, and Kamloops. For community and contract FireSmart work, we mobilize province-wide.
It's the removal of trees, brush, and dead material around structures to reduce the risk of wildfire reaching your home. This includes creating defensible space, removing ladder fuels that let fire climb into tree canopies, and thinning to reduce fuel load.
The general guideline is a minimum 10-metre non-combustible zone immediately around the structure and a 30-metre fuel-reduced zone beyond that. Steep slopes may need more. The specific requirements depend on your property and the recommendations from your local fire department or a wildfire assessor.
Yes. The BC FireSmart program and the Community Resiliency Investment Program offer funding for wildfire risk reduction on private properties. Eligibility and availability change year to year — check with your regional district or the BC FireSmart website for current programs in your area.
