WCDR hosting Wildfire Preparedness session May 8

KINBURN – With wildfire season basically here following the warmest Canadian winter on record, and add to that last year’s record-breaking wildfire season, the issue is top of mind with West Carleton residents, and West Carleton Disaster Relief (WCDR) is endeavouring to make sure we can be as prepared as possible for the risk.

In the three-month period from December to February, Canada was 5.2 degree Celsius warmer than average – 1.1 C warmer than the previous record set in 2009-2010.

WCDR will host its second annual Wildfire Preparedness – Are You Ready? Workshop and panel discussion on Wednesday, May 8, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Client Centre, 5670 Carp Road at Kinburn Side Road. Last year’s event was very well attended.

“In planning for this year’s national Emergency Preparedness week, we didn’t have any trouble identifying which disaster was highest on the minds of our residents this year – Wildfires is Number 1,” WCDR director Judy Makin told West Carleton Online yesterday (April 30).

Wildland fires burned more than 18 million hectares of Canada’s wildlands in 2023, nearly five times the national average.  After the warmest winter on record, Canada’s Emergency Preparedness minister recently warned Canada could face another destructive wildfire season this year. 

“The goal of the information session is to help residents prepare, in order to best protect our homes and ensure our safety in the event of a wildfire in our community,” Makin said. “Expert speakers will share information and experience, and there will be opportunities to ask questions and share our concerns after their presentations.”

Please arrive by 6:30 p.m. to view the information displays.  Presentations will start at 7 p.m.

Speakers include

• Ken Cox is Southern Region Fire Advisor, Ontario Aviation and Forest Emergency Services, Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry      
• Ken will introduce the FireSmart program tactics and strategies, showing us how to be prepared with strategies to improve our homes’ chances of surviving wildfires.
• Ottawa Fire Services District 6 Chief Bill Bell. ​Bell will bring his Brush Truck for display in the parking lot before the meeting.
• WCDR volunteer Bernard Proulx who is trained in FireSmart principles.
• Beth Gooding and Kris Haarbosch with the City of Ottawa Public Safety and Emergency and Protective Services departments.