Campbell River, BC - As part of the UBCM - FireSmart Community Funding & Supports grant, the Strathcona Regional District (SRD) is accepting applications from community organizations that would like to use woodchips for public purposes. Examples of uses that may be approved include erosion control on public trails and use in ecosystem restoration projects.
In September of 2023 the SRD plans to offer a free curbside wood debris chipping service to:
- All road accessible properties in Electoral Area A (Kyuquot/Nootka-Sayward)
- All road accessible properties in Electoral Area D (Oyster Bay - Buttle Lake)
Additionally, a chipper will be staged at the Surge Narrows Bunkhouse on Read Island for residents to bring their woody debris to in the month of May. More information will be provided closer to the date for the preparation of this wood debris chipping service.
The SRD is aware that some community organizations would like to see the woodchips kept in their community rather than have them disposed of at another location. This application method allows the SRD to reach an agreement between our residents/community organizations and the current UBCM policy.
Community organizations who choose to submit an application for consideration, do so with the understanding that woody debris plays a role in contributing to fire ignition. This can be allowed only outside of the FireSmart Non-Combustible Zone and Priority Zones 1, 2 and 3, which is 100 meters beyond any residential structure.
Research into the role that different types of mulch and woody debris (i.e. wood chips) can play when influencing wildfire spread within a community supports a conservative approach to the redistribution of this material in proximity to structures. For example, in low fuel moisture conditions such as a high or extreme fire danger rating, the low fuel moisture conditions of both mulch and woody debris support a very high probability of ignition potential from fire brands (embers). Applying or re-distributing the woody debris within the community to be used around gardens and homes on smaller lots would not be consistent with core recommendations from Firesmart BC. In addition, wood chips dry out faster and stay dryer longer than bark mulch and therefore present a higher threat than bark mulch from a garden centre.
If your community organization is interested in submitting an application, deadline for submissions is April 14th, 2023. Please visit www.srd.ca/woodchips-application for more information.
To learn more about how to better FireSmart your home and property please visit www.srd.ca/emergency-preparedness.
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Media contact: Shaun Koopman, SRD Protective Services Coordinator, 250-830-6702 | skoopman@srd.ca