Wildfire mitigation programs have existed in many areas in Canada for decades. During the 1990s, FireSmart grew out of an Alberta Forest Service initiative with an initial mandate to facilitate interagency co-operation in the promotion of awareness and education aimed at reducing risk of loss of life and property from fire in the wildland urban interface. The program later evolved into a program of the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Center. In British Columbia, FireSmart BC is run by an inter-committee of several agencies. You can click here to learn more about who is involved : firesmartbc.ca/who-we-are/

FireSmart BC's website has several resources related to fire-resistant landscaping including the following:

• FireSmart BC Landscaping Hub: This website has general information on FireSmart Landscaping as well as information on what fire-resistant plants can grow in which hardiness zones, landscaping tips and information on various programs run by FireSmart BC (Plant Program, 2022 Year of the Garden, etc). firesmartbc.ca/landscaping-hub/

• FireSmart BC Landscaping Guide: This .pdf guide (also available in print form) provides detailed descriptions of the purpose and function of FireSmart and how landscaping can be utilized to achieve FireSmart goals. firesmartbc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/FireSmartBC_LandscapingGuide_Web_v2.pdf

• Resource Videos: Several videos on the FireSmart website provide information on landscaping and gardening including the following:

  • https://firesmartbc.ca/resource/the-beauty-of-firesmart-landscaping-with-brian-minter/ The Beauty of FireSmart Landscaping with Brian Minter: "Brian Minter, BC’s go-to gardening expert, reflects on gardening, climate change, and how FireSmart landscaping can help mitigate homeowners' risks when it comes to wildfire."

  • https://firesmartbc.ca/resource/vegetation-management/ Vegetation Management: "One of the key ways to mitigate wildfire threats is to manage vegetation on properties in fire-prone areas."

  • https://firesmartbc.ca/resource/firesmart-bc-plant-program/ FireSmart BC Plant Program: "The FireSmart BC Plant program is one of the integral ways of educating British Columbians. Using clearly marked tags on plants found at home and garden centres, the program instantly shows customers, right at the time of purchase, which plants are considered more fire-resilient."

  • https://firesmartbc.ca/resource/firesmart-bc-art-knapp/ FireSmart BC + Art Knapp: "We teamed up with Art Knapp stores in Kamloops and Prince George; enlisting our favourite FireSmart messenger, Ember, to help get the word out about FireSmart landscaping."

Strathcona Regional District and the City of Campbell River partnered with FireSmart BC to produce the Campbell River FireSmart Gardening Guide. The is useful in providing specific recommendations for garden and landscaping arrangements to both preserve water and reduce wildfire risks. To help guide stylistic choices, the guide provides photographs of recommended plants. It also provides a rough schedule for planting activities to guide scheduling gardening projects. This guide was "developed to meet local building requirements and the specific climate conditions of northern Vancouver Island region thanks to the collaborative efforts of the BC Wildfire Service, Greenways Land Trust, FireSmart BC, School District 72, Strathcona Regional District and multiple departments within the City of Campbell River." www.campbellriver.ca/docs/default-source/city-services/public-safety/final-cr-firesmart-guide-to-gardening-pdf-version-min-(1).pdf?sfvrsn=48ff6908_0