Homes that back onto forest face a particular risk from embers, and a lot of that risk sits in the yard. Dry needles in the gutter, a woodpile against the wall and an overgrown shrub under a window all give embers somewhere to land. FireSmart is the national program that tells homeowners which cleanup jobs matter most. Here is how it works and what to do with the pile you make.
The three zones
The City of Maple Ridge describes the Home Ignition Zone as the area within 30 metres of your home and other structures. It has three parts.
- Immediate Zone, 0 to 1.5 metres. The home, attached structures such as decks, and the first 1.5 metres around them. Remove leaves, needles and twigs from roofs, gutters, decks and the foundation. Keep firewood, propane cylinders and building materials away from the house. Use gravel, brick or concrete next to it.
- Intermediate Zone, 1.5 to 10 metres. Remove woody debris, dry grass, needles and combustible mulch. Keep grass cut and move sheds, trailers and firewood farther from the house.
- Extended Zone, 10 to 30 metres. Remove fallen branches, dry grass and needles. Prune lower branches up to two metres from the ground, or up to one third of the tree height, and space coniferous trees where it makes sense.
Maple Ridge also asks residents to watch for ladder fuels such as tall grass, low hanging branches and firewood stacked against a building, and suggests starting with a free assessment. The City of North Vancouver's FireSmart page goes through the same zones.
Where the brush goes in Maple Ridge
Maple Ridge runs a Brush Chipping program, administered by Ridge Meadows Recycling Society. You do not need to book. You place branches at the roadside by the set out deadline for your area, and the City posts separate spring and fall deadlines for the areas west and east of 224 Street. The program takes tree and shrub branches up to a total volume of 3 cubic metres, and branches up to 6 inches in diameter. It does not take stumps, leaves, branches with thorns such as blackberries and holly, vines, root balls, grasses or construction waste.
For more volume, the City points to the green waste area at the Maple Ridge Recycling and Waste Centre, 10092 236 Street, next to the Recycling Depot. Green waste tipping fees apply. Ridge Meadows Recycling's recycling line is 604-463-5545.
On the North Shore
The North Shore Recycling and Waste Centre accepts green waste for a fee, according to Metro Vancouver. Check your municipality's yard waste and green can rules for branch sizes and bundling.
When a bin makes sense
A large cleanup, a few years of overgrowth or a downed tree can produce more than a curbside program takes. The bin arrives, you load it, and we haul it away. Ask about a yard waste bin when you book, so we can match a bin to the load. Our posts on yard waste bin rental and windstorm cleanup cover the planning. You can also see our organics recycling page and our pages for Maple Ridge and North Vancouver.
Putting the bin on your driveway takes no permit. If the bin has to sit on the street or lane, confirm with your City first, since some cities need a permit. We time delivery to any permit dates.
FAQ
What is the FireSmart Immediate Zone? Maple Ridge describes it as the home, attached structures and the first 1.5 metres around them, which is the most important area to keep clear.
Do I need to book Maple Ridge's brush chipping? No. Place branches at the roadside by the set out deadline for your area.
What does Maple Ridge brush chipping not take? Stumps, leaves, thorny branches such as blackberries and holly, vines, root balls, grasses and construction waste.
What bin should I use for a big cleanup? Ask about a yard waste bin when you book.