Text from https://firesmartcanada.ca/about-firesmart/history/:
1990: Founded
The history of FireSmart Canada goes back to 1990 when a committee was established to address common concerns about wildfire in the wildland urban interface..
The use of the Trademarked term “FireSmart” appears to have originated in Canada. “The history of FireSmart Canada goes back to 1990 when a committee was established to address common concerns about wildfire in the wildland urban interface, where wildlands and human development come together.
The initiative originated with the Alberta Forest Service (now Alberta Agriculture and Forestry). Original committee members were Alberta Forest Service, Alberta Public Safety Services, Canada Parks Service, Canadian Forest Service, Alberta Association of Municipal Districts and Counties, Alberta Urban Municipalities Association, Alberta Planners Association and the Alberta Fire Chiefs Association.
1993: Partners in Protection Association
These agencies created Partners in Protection Association (PiP), which was incorporated in Alberta on Feb. 8, 1993. Partners in Protection grew the FireSmart™ brand into FireSmart Canad
These agencies created Partners in Protection Association (PiP), which was incorporated in Alberta on Feb. 8, 1993. Partners in Protection grew the FireSmart™ brand into FireSmart Canada.
The mandate of Partners in Protection was to facilitate interagency co-operation in the promotion of awareness and education aimed at reducing risk of loss of life and property from fire in the wildland urban interface.
PiP committed to raising awareness, providing information, and developing forums to address common problems that encourage neighbourhood-based initiatives to reduce the risk of property loss and enhance safety in the wildland urban interface.
Partners in Protection developed and distributed information about wildland fire prevention and methods to reduce the effects of destructive wildland fire to homes, neighbourhoods and industries in the interface.
1999: Protect your Community from Wildfire
In 1999, PiP created the FireSmart brand and published a comprehensive technical manual titled Protecting your Community from Wildfire. This manual was printed in English and French and was distributed across Canada and internationally.
In 1999, PiP created the FireSmart brand and published a comprehensive technical manual titled Protecting your Community from Wildfire. This manual was printed in English and French and was distributed across Canada and internationally.
Fire agencies across Canada, Australia and New Zealand have adopted guidelines established in the manual to address wildland urban interface issues in their jurisdictions.
PiP also worked with the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers and Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development to develop manuals such as FireSmart Guidebook for the Oil & Gas Industry, Best Practices for Wildfire Prevention for the Oil & Gas Industry and a Farm and Acreage publication.
2008: Canadian Council of Forest Ministers (CCFM)
In 2008 PiP was invited by the Canadian Council of Forest Ministers (CCFM) to develop a proposal for a national FireSmart program to address the goals necessary to protect lives and properties identified in the Canadian Wildland Fire Strategy developed by senior
In 2008 PiP was invited by the Canadian Council of Forest Ministers (CCFM) to develop a proposal for a national FireSmart program to address the goals necessary to protect lives and properties identified in the Canadian Wildland Fire Strategy developed by senior officials of CCFM. A key element in this proposal was the development of a FireSmart Neighbourhood Recognition program based on the model developed by Firewise USA, a program of the National Fire Protection Association. A partnership with the National Fire Protection Association provides FireSmart Canada with opportunities for international co-operation and sharing of resource materials.
The mandate of Partners in Protection was to facilitate interagency co-operation in the promotion of awareness and education aimed at reducing risk of loss of life and property from fire in the wildland urban interface.
PiP committed to raising awareness, providing information, and developing forums to address common problems that encourage neighbourhood-based initiatives to reduce the risk of property loss and enhance safety in the wildland urban interface.
Partners in Protection developed and distributed information about wildland fire prevention and methods to reduce the effects of destructive wildland fire to homes, neighbourhoods and industries in the interface.
2021: Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre (CIFF)
The goals for FireSmart Canada are twofold: to improve communication with stakeholders; and to organize programs and assets into a logical, manageable structure based on three pillars – homeowners, neighbourhoods and communities.
The move to the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre (CIFFC) in 2021 aims to achieve many of the longstanding goals of Partners in Protection Association – most importantly, helping more Canadians become FireSmart.