1. Brainstorm with students a list of ways humans live in and use the forests
Note: Could supplement or follow activities related to animals/habitat, needs of living things etc.
2. After you have a list of how humans depend on the forest, (camping, cottages, permanent home) have the students list what might happen if there were a wildfire. Encourage them to discuss, not only the effect on forests (good and bad) but also how fire endangers life and property.
3. Discuss wildfire
Have they ever seen or heard about wildfires
How do fires start? (people, lightning)
Does your community have areas that
could be threatened by wildfire i.e. edge of town
Discuss how a fire might move through the community
Show a picture of a home that is not “FireSmart”
Point out features that might make this house susceptible to wildfire
Ask what the home owner could do to make it less at risk
Discuss things that can be done inside the home to prevent fire and to keep
residents safe, e.g., smoke alarms and escape plans
4. Have students discuss how they can teach other about the risks to homes and property in the wildland/urban interface. For example poetry, songs, posters, skits.
5. Divide students into groups of 4 to 5 and have each group discuss what they
could do to reduce the chance of a home being burned in a wildfire. Have them
select one of the techniques listed above and give them enough time to prepare a
poem, poster, skit etc.
6. Once students have prepared their product, have them present it to the class.
After all groups have presented, have students generate a list of all the things that can be done to make a home more “FireSmart” – can be made into “checklist” for extension activity
Have students draw a picture of a FireSmart house and yard
See attached Rubrics
Send students home with a FireSmart checklist (sample attached) to complete on their own home with their parents
Have students evaluate a home’s “wildfire preparedness”
Have students prepare a presentation
to give to other classes during Wildfire Prevention Week
FireSmart Homeowners’ manual (available from MNR or local fire departments)
50 Things You Can Do to Protect Your Home from Wildfires… (attached)
Ministry of Natural Resources - Aviation and Forest Fire Management Branch Website affm.mnr.gov.on.ca/
Other Web sites
-
www.partnersinprotection.ab.ca
- www.FireWise.org
-
www.nps.gov/fire/fire/fireprogram.html
The rubrics below were developed by two Ontario grade 3 and 4 teachers for your
use and adaptation.
| Criteria | Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Level 4 |
| 3e5 LANGUAGE Produce pieces of writing using a variety of forms (e.g. simple research reports, letters, stories, poems) | Can complete pieces of writing incompletely | Can produce pieces of writing in a mechanical and sequential way | Can produce pieces of writing appropriately and logically | Can produce pieces of writing appropriately and in complex and logical ways |
| 3e56 LANGUAGE Create a variety of simple media works | Poster message unclear | Can create a poster with limited assistance | Creates media works independently | Creates complex media works independently |
|
3a54 DRAMA Defend a point of view through speaking and writing in role (e.g. as townsfolk, plead with the mayor to save their town) |
Performs and creates only in limited and incomplete ways | Performs and creates in incomplete ways | Performs and creates in complete ways | Performs and creates in well developed ways |
|
3z31 SOCIAL STUDIES Identify distinguishing features of urban and rural communities |
Shows understanding of a few of the distinguishing features of urban and rural communities | Shows understanding of some of the distinguishing features of urban and rural communities | Shows understanding of most of the distinguishing features of urban and rural communities | Shows understanding of most or all most all of the distinguishing features of urban and rural communities |
| 3z32 SOCIAL STUDIES Describe some possible relation ships between communities and natural environments | Describes some relationships between communities and natural environments with limited clarity | Describes some relationships between communities and natural environments | Describes some relationships between communities and natural environments with some clarity and precision | Describes some relationships between communities and natural environments with clarity and precision |
| Criteria | Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Level 4 |
|
4e60 ENGLISH Can create media works |
Poster message unclear | Can create poster with limited assistance | Creates media works independently | Creates complex media works independently |
| 4e56 ENGLISH Contribute and work constructively in groups | Has difficulty contributing and working constructively in groups | Can contribute and work constructively in groups with assistance | Contributes and works constructively in groups | Works constructively and confidently in groups |
| 4s 1 SCIENCE Demonstrate an understanding of the concepts of habitat and community | With assistance, identifies the factors that could affect habitats and communities of plants and animals | With limited assistance, identifies the factors that could affect habitats and communities of plants and animals | Identifies the factors that could affect habitats and communities of plants and animals | Shows understanding of all or almost all the factors that could affect habitats and communities of plants and animals |
| 4s 3 SCIENCE Describe ways in which humans can change habitats and the effects of these changes on the plants and animals within the habitats | Describes ways in which humans can change habitats and the affects of these changes with little clarity | Describes ways in which humans can change habitats and the affects of these changes with some minor misconceptions | Describes with clarity and precision, ways in which humans can change habitats and the effects of these changes with nearly complete explanations | Describes with clarity and precision, ways in which humans can change habitats and the affects of these changes |
| 4a52 DRAMA Identify and apply solutions to problems presented through drama and make appropriate decisions in groups | Provides analysis that shows limited understanding when solving problems presented through drama when working in small groups | Provides partial analysis when solving problems presented through drama when working in small groups | Provides complete analysis and gives sufficient evidence to support options when solving problems presented through drama | Provides complete analysis and gives well considered evidence to support options when solving problems presented through drama |
The wildland/urban interface refers to areas where residential, commercial, industrial or other human development is located in close proximity to the vegetation fuels naturally found in wildlands, including forests, prairies, hillsides and valleys. Many cottage subdivisions and small towns across Ontario can be defined as wildland/urban interface areas.
More and more, urban areas are expanding into wildland areas. An increasing number of vacation homes are built near wildland recreation areas. In this relationship between man and nature, each side poses certain risks and dangers to the other. Wildland fires can injure or kill people and cause damage to their property. Fires caused by humans can have a devastating effect on wildlands. It is important that everyone knows the risks and protection strategies related to homes located in wildland/urban interface areas.
A dream home built in an idealistic wildland setting can be razed by fire in minutes. Likewise, the picturesque scenery that attracted homeowners to the setting can be drastically altered, often because of the inadvertent action of one of these homeowners.
Why are wildfires in wildland/urban interface areas a risk?
Unless homeowners and local governments take proper preventive measures, homes and people's lives will continue to be in danger.
Although people can never completely protect their homes and adjacent wildlands against wildfires, they can take steps to reduce the risk. You can, for example:
Look at your own home and work through the following checklist. Assign the
indicated number of points for each assessment area. The fewer points you get,
the more prepared your property is to successfully survive a wildfire. If a
question does not apply to your home, score 0.
Important Factors |
Characteristics |
Your Score |
| What kind of roofing material do you have? | If you have asphalt, metal, tile, ULC rated
shakes score 0 points. If you have a wood roof score 30 points. |
|
| How clean is your roof? | No needles or leaves covering roof (score 0
points) A scattering of needles and leaves (2 points) Clogged gutters and extensive leaf litter (3 points) |
|
| What is the exterior of your home built out of? | Stucco, metal siding, brick (0 points) Logs or heavy timbers (1 point) Wood, vinyl siding or wood shakes (6 points) |
|
| Have you screened in your balcony, deck or porch? | All decks, balconies and porches are screened
or covered in with fire resistant material (0 points) All decks, balconies and porches are screened or sheathed with material that burns (2 points) Decks, balconies and porches are not screened or covered (6 points) |
|
| Where is your woodpile located? | More than 10 metres from any building (0
points) Between 3 and 10 metres from any building (3 points) Less than 3 metres from any building (6 points) |
|
| Is your home set back from the edge of a slope? | Building is located on the bottom or lower half
of a hill. (0 points) Building located on the mid to upper half or edge of a hill (6 points) |
|
| What type of forest surrounds your home, and how far away is it? | Deciduous trees (poplar, birch) within 10-30
metres of buildings (0 points) Mixed wood (poplar, birch and spruce or pine) within 10 metres of buildings (30 points) Mixed wood 10 - 30 metres from buildings (3 points) Conifers (spruce, pine or fir) within 10 metres of buildings (30 points) Conifers (spruce, pine or fir) within 10-30 metres of buildings:
|
|
| What kind of vegetation grows in the zone around your buildings? | Well watered lawn or non- combustible
landscaping material (0 points)
Uncut wild grass or shrubs
Dead and down woody material within 10 metres of building
|
|
| Are there brushes and low tree branches in the surrounding forest? | None within 10 - 30 metres (0 points)
Scattered
Abundant
|
Total Score
The Wildfire Hazard Level for you home is:
1. Perform a FireSmart assessment of your home and see what you need to do to reduce your risk.
2. Move your firewood pile out of your home's defensible space.
3. Clean your roof and gutters of leaves and pine needles (best done in October).
4. Clear the view of your house number so it can be easily seen from the street.
5. Put a hose (at least 30 metres long) on a rack and attach it to an outside faucet.
6. Trim all tree branches if they overhang your house.
7. Trim all tree branches from within 6 metres of all chimneys.
8. Remove trees closer than 3 metres along the driveway.
9. Prune branches overhanging the driveway to have 4 metres overhead clearance.
10. Maintain a green lawn for 3 metres around your home.
11. If new homes are still being built in your area, talk to the developer and local zoning officials about building standards.
12. Plan and discuss an escape plan with your family. Develop and practice a fire escape plan. Include your pets.
13. Get involved with your community's disaster mitigation plans.
14. Check your fire extinguishers. Are they still charged? Are they easy to get to in an emergency? Does everyone in the family know where they are and how to use them?
15. Clear deadwood and dense flammable vegetation from your home's defensible space.
16. Remove conifer shrubs from your home's defensible space especially if your home is in a high-risk area.
17. Review your homeowner's insurance policy for adequate coverage. Consult your insurance agent about costs of rebuilding and repairs in your area.
18. Talk to you children about not starting fires or playing with matches.
19. If you have a burn barrel (incinerator) that you use for burning trash, STOP!
20. Compost leaves in the fall do not burn them.
21. Do not burn your brush piles or grass in the spring. Chip or shred and use as mulch or take it to the dump.
22. Always have a shovel on hand and hook up the garden hose BEFORE you start a fire.
23. Never burn if the smoke and flames are blowing towards your home (or your neighbour’s home).
24. Be a FireSmart advocate.
25. Install highly visible house numbers (at least 10cm tall) on your home.
26. Install big, highly visible house numbers (at least 10 cm tall) at the entrance of the driveway onto the street. Use non-flammable materials and posts.
27. Install metal screens on attic, foundation and other openings on your home to prevent accumulation of leaves and needles.
28. Hold a neighbourhood meeting to talk about fire safety. Invite your local fire chief. Have coffee and donuts for neighbours.
29. Install a fire extinguisher in the kitchen and the garage.
30. Install a metal shield between your home and an attached wood fence.
31. Replace conifer and evergreen shrubs with low-flammable plants in your home's defensible space.
32. Thin and prune conifer trees for 10 to 30 metres around your home.
33. Purchase and use a weather alert radio. Many types of emergencies are announced through this service.
34. Replace vinyl gutters and downspouts with non-flammable, metal gutters and downspouts.
35. Install a spark arrestor or heavy wire screen with mesh opening less than 5 mm on wood burning fireplaces and chimneys.
36. Build a gravel turn around area near your house big enough to allow a fire truck to turn around.
37. Join your neighbours in having an additional access road into your neighbourhood. Share the costs.
38. Treat flammable materials like wood roofs, decks, and siding with fire retardant material.
39. Modify driveway gates to accommodate fire trucks. They should be at least 3 metres wide and set back at least 10 metres from the road. If locked, use a key box approved by your local fire department or a chain loop with a lock that can be cut in an emergency.
40. Enclose decks to prevent accumulation of leaves, needles, and debris. Include a metal screen with a 5 mm mesh opening to prevent sparks from getting under the deck.
41. Replace your roof with fire-resistant materials such as Class A shingles.
42. Install a roof irrigation system to protect your home's roof.
43. Install an independent water supply for a sprinkler system with a non-electric (e.g. gas) powered pump capable of running unattended for 24 hours.
44. Replace wood or vinyl siding with non-flammable material.
45. Replace single-pane glass windows and plastic skylights with tempered, double-pane glass.
46. Box in eaves, fascias, and soffits with aluminum or steel materials with metal screens to prevent entry of sparks.
47. Improve driveway culverts and bridges to accommodate the weight of a fire truck.
48. Relocate propane tanks inside the defensible space but at least 3 metres from the house. Have non-flammable ground cover such as gravel around them for 3 metres.
49. Have electric service lines to your house placed underground.
50. Improve your driveway by straightening sharp curves and filling in sharp dips that would hinder a fire truck.
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