Firesmart volunteers hoping proactive measures prevent urban wildfires

The threat of these types of fires is something the BC Wildfire Service is preparing for.

One of the best parts about living in Metro Vancouver is how close we are to nature.

But with that comes various risks—including what’s known as wildland urban interface fires, or wildfires that cross into an urban area where people live.

Firesmart volunteer and local representative Heinz Kreutz met with CTV News in the Sunshine Woods neighbourhood of Delta late Tuesday afternoon. Within moments, he was pointing out issues of concern at houses just steps away from Delta’s watershed park.

He highlighted houses with pyramid cedar hedges that are popular among people looking for privacy—but which he said are unfortunately also a fire risk.

“The pyramid cedar hedges or any cedar hedges in general are very combustible,” Kreutz told CTV News. “And if they’re on top of bark mulch, that’s basically a wick going to the house.”

The risks aren’t just hypothetical for this neighbourhood. Kreutz said there is a community Facebook group with many residents diligent about prevention, but sometimes one person’s mistake can cause a problem.

“A couple of years ago there was a small fire that was started in the watershed, basically somebody being careless,” Kreutz said. “And everybody’s worried—because it could destroy this neighbourhood. I have friends who live right backed up to the trees.”

The threat of these types of fires is something the B.C. Wildfire Service is aware of—and preparing for.

“So this year specifically, in 2026 we’ve provided specialized training for wildland urban interface operations to more than 1,700 fire departments, First Nations and contractors to support that interoperability when we’re working together,” Sarah Budd with the BCWS told CTV News on Tuesday.

Kreutz encourages people to go through Firesmart materials online. He said the plants we choose to have on our properties can make a difference.

“So if you want to have a privacy hedge for example, it will list cedar being very dangerous, and then boxwood being less,” Kreutz said, pointing to a Firesmart guide.

Kreutz is hosting a free community safety forum at the Wheelhouse Theatre in South Surrey on Saturday at 11:30 a.m.

It will feature Firesmart presentations and other safety demonstrations, and will include a free lunch.