Mark your calendars: FireSmart Chipping Program returns to help reduce wildfire risk

Public Service Announcement

Kelowna residents can once again take action to reduce wildfire risk on their properties through the City’s FireSmart Community Chipping Program, which offers free curbside removal and chipping of select highly flammable vegetation.

Registration opens Monday, March 30 at 8:00 a.m. Spots fill up fast so residents are encouraged to mark their calendars.

Highly flammable plants and shrubs such as cedar, juniper, mugo pine, and conifer branches, can significantly increase fire intensity, particularly when they contain fine, dry, or dead material, or natural oils and resins that ignite easily. Removing this vegetation from around homes is one of the most effective and immediate steps residents can take to reduce wildfire risk.

“Since the program launched in 2022, nearly 270 metric tonnes of hazardous debris have been removed from residential properties across Kelowna, helping to reduce potential wildfire fuels within city limits,” says Dennis Craig, Assistant Fire Chief of Mitigation and Prevention.

Once registration closes, participants who are accepted into the program will receive an email confirming their spot, along with detailed instructions on preparing materials and information about their scheduled pick‑up week. Pick‑ups will take place throughout the month of May.

The program is available to Kelowna homeowners and focuses exclusively on the removal of select highly flammable materials. Deciduous trees, grasses, roots, dirt, rocks, and other non‑eligible materials will not be accepted for chipping and should be disposed of through regular yard waste services.

For program details, eligibility requirements, and FireSmart landscaping tips, visit kelowna.ca/chippingprogram