Rebate Program
The FireSmart rebate provides up to $1000 to homeowners living within the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen (RDOS) who conduct FireSmart work on their property. This money may reimburse the cost of materials as well as time spent conducting hazard mitigation work on your property.
Please note that the RDOS FireSmart rebate program may be subject to change.
What You Need to Know
Who is eligible for the rebate? And how does it work?
Residents, community associations and strata properties within the RDOS nine electoral areas are eligible to apply.
- Labour costs will be calculated as 50% of $28.54 per hour up to $1000. The cost per hour is based on the volunteer compensation rate established by FireSmart Canada.
- The work must be conducted within the FireSmart Home Ignition Zones, which includes the home and surrounding yard areas (illustrated below) - Immediate Zone, Intermediate Zone and Extended Zone.
- Only the FireSmart activities, estimated work hours and associated costs that are recommended in the completed assessment are eligible for the rebate.
- Residential property owners can complete the mitigation activities themselves, or hire others to complete the work.
- Due to limited funding, homeowners are limited to submitting one rebate application per property.
Download the Rebate Brochure
Activities eligible for rebate
In general, the following activities are eligible for rebate:
- Roofing: Remove combustible debris and overhanging branches.
- Siding: Remove combustible debris, create 15 cm ground-to-siding non-combustible clearance.
- Decking: Remove all combustible material from under or adjacent to deck, relocate firewood piles.
- Landscaping (Immediate Zone): Ensure 1.5 metre horizontal non-combustible surface perimeter along the outer walls of the primary structure, plant low density of fire-resistant plants, remove woody debris, remove flammable plants.
- FireSmart Intermediate Zone: Remove material that would easily ignite, thin and prune trees, clean up accumulations of fallen branches, remove dry grass and needles.
- FireSmart Extended Zone: Plant deciduous trees, remove standing dead and coarse woody debris, remove unmaintained grasses, ensure flammable shrubs are well spaced, remove low tree branches below two metres from the ground.
Eligible Activities for FireSmart Rebate
Home or Structure
1 |
Roof Material Gutters Vents and Openings |
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2 |
Building Exterior or Siding |
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3 |
Windows & Doors |
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4 |
Balcony, deck, porch |
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Yard / Immediate Zone (0 to 1.5 meters from Home)
5 |
1.5 meters from furthest extent of home |
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Yard / Intermediate Zone (1.5 to 10 meters from Home)
6 |
Adjacent Combustibles |
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7 |
Outbuildings not meeting FireSmart guidelines |
from home or upgrade outbuildings to meet FireSmart guidelines |
8 |
Trees |
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9 |
Surface vegetation and combustible materials |
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Yard / Extended Zone (10 to 30 metres from Home)
Note: Areas beyond the Extended Zone should not be addressed until the building, Immediate, Intermediate and Extended Zones have first been addressed. Consider seeking the guidance of a forest professional with wildland fire knowledge on appropriate management options for areas beyond the Extended Zone.
10 |
Trees |
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11 |
Surface Vegetation |
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Step 1: Download your application forms
The forms include:
- RDOS FireSmart Rebate Application form:
RDOS-FireSmart-Rebate-Program-Application-FINAL5.pdf - FireSmart Home Ignition Zone Score Card (only required if you complete the self assessment).
If you have had a free home assessment completed of your home, simply attach this report to your application:
RDOS-Home-Ignition-Zone-Score-Card-04-2021.pdf - FireSmart Home Work Hours Form:
Provide the hours you've worked in this form
RDOS-Work-Hrs-rebate-form.pdf
Step 2: Also include the following in your package
- Before and after photos of the project areas being worked on (ensure the photos are from the same direction and orientation)
- Original receipts for materials used to complete hazard mitigation work on your property
Step 3: Complete a one-hour online FireSmart 101 Course
- Take the one-hour online course with FireSmart BC
- Include the certificate of completion with your application
Step 4: Send in your completed application
- Email it to firesmart@rdos.bc.ca or mail it to the RDOS FireSmart, 101 Martin Street, Penticton, B.C., V2A 5J9
Have Questions?
Email us at firesmart@rdos.bc.ca