N.S. greenhouse boosts fire-resistant landscaping after 2023 wildfires
Bloom Greenhouse and Garden Centre had to be evacuated two years ago
The Halifax-area wildfires two years ago had a lasting impact on Cathy Oulton, who owns Bloom Greenhouse and Garden Centre in Hammonds Plains.
Fires raged through the community. She had to vacate her business.
"It was very personal for us," Oulton recalls.
"This area was completely shut down, and we were evacuated ... about 18 of our staff were evacuated from their homes directly."
Oulton has since worked with Halifax Regional Fire & Emergency on an initiative aimed at helping homeowners make landscaping choices that are fire-resistant.
The FireSmart program started in Alberta but has since expanded and been adapted in other provinces.
On Saturday, the greenhouse hosted an information session in conjunction with Halifax's fire department.
Bloom Greenhouse is the first in the province to adopt a new tagging system for plants, guiding customers toward safer options.
Kara McCurdy, wildfire mitigation program manager with the fire departmetn, said the plant-tagging program started in British Columbia but has been customized for the Maritimes.
The fire-resistant plants, McCurdy said, are leafy, shed less, have high water content, and lack the flammable pitches and resins found in some others.
McCurdy said that "vegetation around the homes was actually the No. 1 reason why a lot of homes fell victim" to past wildfires.
She also cautioned that bark mulch should not be used closer than 1.5 metres from the home due to the risk of spontaneous combustion.
People often prioritize privacy without considering the potential risks associated with their landscaping, not just from wildfires but other natural hazards too, McCurdy said.
McCurdy said the fire department offers free home assessments for wildfire risk to help residents make decisions about their homes.
At Bloom Greenhouse, plants deemed lower risk are now marked with signs and stickers.
Both Oulton and McCurdy hope to see more events and an expansion of the program.
If customers in fire-prone areas select a more flammable tree, Oulton said, staff will direct them to safer alternatives.
"We've been here for 20 years and it was shocking and earth-shattering when the forest fires happened in this area," Oulton said.
"We're happy to be helping to build a plan going forward to help mitigate some of that risk."
