Ontario FireSmart Communities Workshop

Date and time: April 16-17, 2024; 0900EST-17:00EST.

Cost: Free

Deadline for registering: March 29th, 2024, Digital workshop files will be emailed to participants. Attendance for this delivery is limited to 75 participants.

Location: Virtual (Microsoft Teams)

General Background:

This workshop has been developed by the Aviation, Forest Fire and Emergency Services (AFFES) branch of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF). The workshop focuses on providing community leaders, AFFES staff, relevant contractors and community members with information to help them gain an understanding of FireSmart principles and wildland fire mitigation planning tools.

This workshop is based on the FireSmart manual and the FireSmart: Begins at Home Guide. FireSmart Canada is a national program that takes a whole of society approach to create fire adapted communities and has been adopted by Ontario.

Workshop Objectives:

The Ontario FireSmart Communities workshop will:

• Discuss topics including wildland fire hazard recognition, hazard forest identification and how to develop a Community Wildland Fire Protection Plan using effective FireSmart solutions.
• Demonstrate how to develop a network of fire professionals and concerned residents and show how the FireSmart process can help reduce the risk of wildland fire losses in participating communities.

Organization:

The workshop is two days with sessions scheduled from approximately 0900 to 1700 (EST). The agenda consists of a series of interactive classroom presentations and exercises that cover basic Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) background, FireSmart principles, hazard risk assessments, and a review of guidance materials to help you create a CWPP.

Workshop Materials:

Each student will receive an email containing printable files which can be used during and after the virtual workshop. The workshop files include:

• FireSmart: Begins at Home Guide.
• FireSmart: Guide to Landscaping Second Edition.
• FireSmart: Home Ignition Zone Self Assesment.
• FireSmart: Neighborhood Wildfire Hazard Assesment Form.
• Ontario’s Community Wildland Fire Protection Plan (CWPP) template.
• Ontario’s Wildland Fire Hazard Identification Risk Assessment (HIRA) template.
• Other Workshop Training Materials.

Course Requirements:

Students interested should familiarize themselves with FireSmart Canada by visiting: www.firesmartcanada.ca and take the introductory FireSmart course called FireSmart 101 which is available for free.

Students must have access to Microsoft Teams in order to access this virtual training session.

How to Register:

Interested candidates should email Ken Cox at: kennith.cox@ontario.ca and include the following information:

Candidate's Name, Community, or Organization (if applicable), and Email.

You will receive a confirmation email indicating your interest to the course and later copies of the workshop files and the invitation to Microsoft Teams.

Thank you for your interest in this virtual workshop, and we look forward to seeing you on the workshop.