It’s wildfire season!
From April to October, the computer-based Canadian Forest Fire Danger Rating System is updated daily at around 14:00 (2:00pm) with either low, moderate, high, or extreme fire danger ratings. This tool can assist fire managers in assessing the potential for ignition, spread, and burning intensity.
We can use this information for making fire prevention, preparedness, and suppression decisions and other general fire management decisions.
Turn the Fire Danger Rating into action – Plan, Prepare, Prep, Pay Attention!
Low – Plan how you will prepare your home for wildfires by choosing which FireSmart actions to take.
Moderate – Prepare your home by putting those FireSmart actions into motion; yard work, renovations, & maintenance.
High – Prep your emergency kit and ensure you have a working plan that the whole family understands.
Extreme – Pay attention! To the City of Merritt, Voyent Alert!, local news, BC Wildfire Service, and other applicable forms of communication regarding the ongoing fire situations in our area.
The City of Merritt falls within the Kamloops Fire Center and local fire danger rating information is collected from the Merritt 2 HUB. The ratings are updated on our Facebook page, as well as on-site at 1799 Nicola Avenue and approx. 1675 Juniper Drive (across from Pineridge Cemetery). If discrepancies exist, the FWDCR (linked below) is the authority and should be used as most accurate.
Firefighter Spotlight
Firefighter Tim Hustins
Originally from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Firefighter Tim Hustins has had his share of moving around as the child of an RCMP member. Fortunately for us, his travels have brought him and his family here to Merritt, B.C.! Firefighter Hustins, who works for Barkman Concrete, was interested in joining the fire department as a POC (paid-on-call) member because he loves “helping people and making a difference in the community.” A difference Hustins makes every call-out. His favourite part of being a firefighter? “The sense of family the Merritt Fire shows.” We want to thank Firefighter Tim Hustins, and his family, for their continued service to the community.
Hard work and training.
“Treat everyone how you want to be treated.”
Beyond Response
Protecting our community goes beyond response. We work to keep Merritt safe through public education, fuel mitigation, fire inspections, investigations, and emergency management.
Fuel Management
Did you know…? The City of Merritt is committed to reducing the wildfire risk on municipal property and in our ‘buffering areas’ in neighbouring jurisdictions, as identified in our Community Wildfire Protection Plan.
