Photo by Neil Findlay
In February 2024, The Cabins became the first neighbourhood in Sun Peaks to be officially recognized by FireSmart Canada, marking a significant milestone in local wildfire preparedness. Spearheaded by resident Neil Findlay, the initiative has sparked interest across the village and is already inspiring others to consider similar steps.
“It’s a community issue that I don’t think is recognized as being important enough in Sun Peaks,” Findlay said. “I wanted to raise awareness, not just for The Cabins, but for the community as a whole.”
The journey to recognition began in 2024 with a community event day, one of the core requirements to become a FireSmart Recognised Neighbourhood. The process involves several defined steps, starting with contacting a local FireSmart representative to conduct a wildfire hazard assessment. From there, a neighbourhood must form a FireSmart committee, appoint a neighbourhood champion and host a documented FireSmart event.
For The Cabins, the focus was clear: vegetation management.
“We started by removing flammable materials closest to the homes,” Findlay said. “The most critical zone is the first 1.5 metres around a house, then 1.5 to 10 metres and finally 10 to 30 metres.”
Work included thinning trees, pruning limbs and making landscaping choices like replacing bark mulch with crushed rock. The committee also turned its attention to common property to address wildfire risks beyond individual lots.
Challenges and community response
One of the biggest hurdles has been engaging absentee homeowners, a common feature in resort communities like Sun Peaks.
“People who live here full time tend to be more concerned and involved,” Findlay said.
Still, the turnout was encouraging. Over one-third of homes in The Cabins participated in the 2024 FireSmart event.
“I actually found the response more positive than expected,” Findlay said. “More people knew about FireSmart than I thought. Our goal is to reach 50 per cent participation in future events.”
The initiative also gained traction thanks to local support. Sun Peaks Fire Rescue (SPFR) was instrumental in assisting with the neighbourhood’s FireSmart event and the municipality has since hired a community FireSmart coordinator.
“They’re taking major strides forward. We hope this is just the beginning.”
Recognition and looking ahead
Findlay is proud of what the neighbourhood has accomplished and a recognition sign now marks the community’s achievement.
“This is an initiative that was long overdue. Hopefully, it will encourage others to follow.”
The Cabins received a $1,000 grant for future FireSmart efforts and Findlay noted some residents even saw their home insurance premiums decrease after the recognition.
Looking forward, the committee plans to continue vegetation management and focus on common area landscaping. There are also discussions about collaborating with the municipality to manage vegetation around the perimeter of the neighbourhood. Other future improvements include vent and gable-end screening and encouraging the use of fire-resistant materials near homes.
Advice for other neighbourhoods
Findlay encourages other strata councils and homeowners to get involved.
“Start by contacting Sun Peaks Fire Rescue,” Findlay advised. “They now have a FireSmart coordinator who can guide you. Then check out the BC FireSmart website, it’s user-friendly and outlines all the necessary steps.”
He emphasised the importance of finding a dedicated neighbourhood champion.
“That’s often the limiting factor, but once someone takes the first step, the process is very achievable.”
As a forester, Findlay knows first-hand the wildfire risk that communities like Sun Peaks face.
“This is about safeguarding not just one neighbourhood, but the whole town,” Findlay said. “I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished and we’re not done yet.”
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