Around Your Community
FireSmart Treatment Areas
The FireSmart treatments in the Lesser Slave Region have been split into 13 phases. They can be accessed through this interactive map that allows you to see where the treatments were completed and what was done at each site. Click on the numbers below to view the specific treatments applied.
Phase 1 – Sawridge Creek
Thin by mulching (machine), remove dead and downed tree material.
Phase 2 – Big Fish Bay
Thin and Prune standing trees, Remove dead and downed tree material.
Phase 3 – Birch Road
Remove dead and downed tree material.
Phase 4 – Marten Beach
Thin by mulching (machine), remove dead and downed tree material.
Phase 5 – South Highway 2
Thin by mulching (machine), remove dead and downed tree material.
Phase 6 – Lawrence Lake
Thin and Prune standing trees, Remove dead and downed tree material.
Phase 7 – Lawrence Lake Slash Pile
Removal piled dead and downed tree material through chipping and burning.
Phase 8 – Pipeline Fireguard
Pipeline thinning of trees and machine mulching of standing trees to create a fireguard.
Phase 9 – Highway 2 East
Remove dead and downed tree material.
Phase 10 – Flat Top
Remove dead and downed tree material.
Phase 11 – Bayer Road
Remove dead and downed tree material.
Phase 12 – Canyon Creek West
Thin and Prune standing trees, Remove dead and downed tree material.
Phase 13 – Canyon Creek
Thin and Prune standing trees, Remove dead and downed tree material.
The treatment phases are as follows:
- Phase 1 – Sawridge Creek/ Town of Slave Lake
- Phase 2 – Southshore Drive/ Big Fish Bay
- Phase 3 – Town of Slave Lake/ Poplar Lane
- Phase 4 – Marten Beach / Summerwood Estates
- Phase 5 – Highway 2 South of Slave Lake
- Phase 6 – Lawrence Lake
- Phase 7 – Lawrence Lake Slash Pile Disposal
- Phase 8 – Pipeline Fireguard
- Phase 9 – Highway 2 East
- Phase 10 – Flat-top Tower Road
- Phase 11 – Bayer Road/ Turner Road Estates
- Phase 12 – Canyon Creek/ Highway 2 West
- Phase 13 – Canyon Creek
Lesser Slave Region FireSmart Crew
Lesser Slave Region FireSmart Crew – Is a specially trained crew of four members established to complete the FireSmart treatments throughout the Lesser Slave Region. The Lesser Slave Regional Fire Service manages the FireSmart Crew. Below in the FireSmart Vegetation Management section is a description of the type of FireSmart activities the crew is involved with.
Fire Preparedness — The Lesser Slave Region FireSmart crew has access to four sprinkler trailers and three water trucks to ensure the rural regional fire services have the resources to respond effectively to wildfire emergencies. They can also provide home assessments, FireSmart education and wildfire preparedness demonstrations to home owners.
What is a FireSmart treatment?
FireSmart treatments not only help reduce the opportunities of a wildfire starting and spreading, they help wildfire fighting crews fight wildfires effectively and safely. A treatment can also open up access to new areas for recreation.
FireSmart Vegetation Management
- Fuel Reduction:
- Thinning- Thinning is increasing the space between trees by selectively removing flammable species (spruce, pine, fir) and shrubs mechanically by mulching or harvesting the trees or by selectively removing the trees by hand.
- Pruning- Removal of low lying branches to 2 meters high to reduce the spread of ground fire into the tops of the trees. Fire is much harder to control in the tree tops.
- Removal of dead and downed woody material- The removal of dead surface and low level shrubs, trees, logs to reduce the possibility of wildfire ignition.
- Fuel Removal: Removing all flammable species to create fuel breaks (fireguards) on the landscape. These fuel free areas are used for firefighting operations and to slow the approach of fire. This is achieved through mulching, mowing or prescribed burning programs.
- Species Conversion: This is the alteration of a forest area from conifer trees (spruce, pine and fir trees) to a less combustible and more fire resistant deciduous tree species (aspen, poplar and birch). This strategy is used to help reduce the wildfire hazard around communities while still maintaining the trees on the landscape. This also involves maintaining grassy or deciduous areas around structures.
- Prescribed Fire: FireSmart recognizes the benefit of introducing the controlled application of fire to sensitive and protected areas of the forest. It can help reduce hazardous buildups of forest fuels. Prescribed fire is used to maintain the overall health of the forest, plants and animals.
- Hazard Reduction Burning: By burning dry grass annually we can reduce the hazard of dry grasses and return nutrients back to the soil.
FireSmart Canada Community Recognition Program
Citizen involvement is the cornerstone of the FireSmart Canada Community Recognition Program. This program recognizes communities that are involved in making their area FireSmart. If you live in a region susceptible to wildfires, you and your neighbours will learn how to decrease the risk of losing your homes and how to best protect yourselves in the event of wildfire.
The Program draws on a community’s spirit and its willingness to take responsibility for reducing wildfire risks. It begins with a local FireSmart Representative providing wildfire hazard reduction information designed for your community. With the assistance of the Local FireSmart Representative, you and your neighbours form a cooperating network to assess the wildfire hazards around you then you identify and implement local solutions.
The community members with the 2015 FireSmart Community Sign at the recognition event October 6th, 2015. Marten Beach is the 3rd FireSmart Community recognized in Alberta.