A Bigger Picture Than Hazard Trees

We’re often asked, “Why would I remove my trees?” Beyond root rot, weak unions, or compromised structure, there’s another essential reason: FireSmart. Strategic removals (and pruning) can dramatically reduce wildfire risk to your home and community.

What Is FireSmart—and Why It Matters Now

FireSmart is about living with and managing for wildfire. In Alberta, Wildfire Season begins March 1, and recent events show how quickly fires can impact urban areas. FireSmart provides practical, evidence-based steps to lessen wildfire impacts on your home and neighborhood.

How Wildfire Reaches Your Home

Wildfire can ignite structures in three primary ways:

• Direct flame impingement (flames touching your home)

• Radiant heat (extreme heat without direct contact)

• Embers (burning debris carried by wind—up to ~2 km from the fire front)

Zone Zero: Create a 1.5 m Non-Combustible Perimeter

Your first line of defense is a non-combustible zone extending 1.5 meters around your home.
This buffer reduces the chance of:

• Embers igniting flammable materials beside your house

• Direct flame and radiant heat exposures at the foundation, siding, and vents

Use: rock, pavers, mineral soil, or other non-combustible ground covers in this band.
Avoid: wood, bark, and other flammable materials in this 1.5 m zone.

Mulch Matters: Choose Wisely

Not all mulches behave the same in a fire:

• Higher flame spread: shredded cedar and bark mulches

• Better performance: wood chips (like chipper output), when beds are outside the 1.5 m zone and broken up so they don’t create a continuous path to the house

For beds adjacent to the home (within 1.5 m), use rock or other non-combustible cover.

Reference: The Combustibility of Landscape Mulches (research PDF)

Let’s Talk Trees: Species, Spacing, and Strategy

Conifer vs. Deciduous

• Conifers (e.g., white spruce common in our area) present greater fire hazard

• Deciduous species (e.g., poplar, aspen) are generally less flammable

FireSmart guidance: keep conifers out of the 10 m “Zone 1” around your home where possible and prioritize fire-resistant ornamental plants.

Crown Spacing in Zone 2 (10–30 m)

Selective removals to space canopies at least 3 m apart help prevent crown-to-crown fire spread and slow the fire’s advance toward your house.

Reality check: If we removed every spruce within 10 m, some properties would lose nearly all trees. That’s where our arborist assessment helps you balance forest character with safety, targeting the most susceptible trees while preserving the look you love.

Pruning to Eliminate “Ladder Fuels”

Ladder fuels are low branches that allow ground fire to climb into the canopy.

• Prune branches within ~2 m of the ground (or 1/3 of tree height on smaller trees)

• Remove deadwood and maintain separation from shrubs and ground fuels

Needle & Debris Management

Spruce needles are highly flammable. Regularly rake and remove:

• Needle litter on lawns and beds

• Debris in gutters, eaves, roof valleys, and around vents

This reduces ember ignition sites and slows surface fire spread.

Home Hardening: Beyond the Yard

Protection from embers also depends on materials and housekeeping:

• Favor non-combustible siding and roofing where feasible (per FireSmart guidance)

• Close in open deck undersides to prevent ember intrusion

• Store firewood away from the home (outside the 10 m Zone 1 if possible)

• Screen vents and keep the 1.5 m perimeter clear

FireSmart is more than trees—it’s a whole-home approach.

Why Work With Red Mountain Rigging

When we’re not climbing and rigging, team members volunteer with the local fire department. With formal training, real-world experience, and NFPA certifications related to FireSmart principles and structure protection, we’re uniquely positioned to assess, plan, and implement effective wildfire mitigation on your property.

Start Here: Get a Formal FireSmart Assessment (FREE)

A certified FireSmart assessment is the best first step:

• Required for certain permit approvals and may support insurance initiatives

• Provides a documented, prioritized action plan

For Rocky View County residents:
👉 www.rockyview.ca/fire-inspections

For Redwood Meadows residents:
👉 Redwood Meadows FireSmart Application
Email completed form to admin@redwoodmeadows.ab.ca

Learn more:
👉 FireSmart Canada Homeowner’s Guide (PDF)
👉 www.firesmart.ca

Important: Use a trained and certified assessor. An informal opinion won’t produce the comprehensive report needed for permits and programs.

Quick FireSmart Checklist

• ☐ Maintain a 1.5 m non-combustible zone around the home

• ☐ Keep conifers out of Zone 1 (0–10 m) where practical

• ☐ Space crowns ~3 m apart in Zone 2 (10–30 m)

• ☐ Prune ladder fuels (raise canopies, remove deadwood)

• ☐ Clean needles/debris from roofs, gutters, and yards

• ☐ Harden the home (materials, deck enclosures, vent screening)

• ☐ Get a certified FireSmart assessment and follow the plan

When Tree Removal Makes Sense

Tree removal isn’t about clear-cutting your yard—it’s about targeted risk reduction:

• Hazardous or diseased trees threatening structures

• Conifers too close to the home in Zone 1

• Overcrowded canopies that enable crown-to-crown fire transfer

• Strategic removals to enhance spacing and reduce ladder fuels

Our approach: Preserve the forest feel, protect your home, and enhance long-term resilience.

Resources

• Rocky View County: www.rockyview.ca/fire-inspections

• Redwood Meadows FireSmart Application: (Download → email to admin@redwoodmeadows.ab.ca)

• FireSmart Canada Homeowner’s Guide (PDF)

• Government of Alberta FireSmart: www.firesmart.ca

Written by Sean Sterna — The Rocky Mountain Arborist | Used with Permission