ICLR unveils wildfire resilient home in Alberta

The Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction (ICLR) has retrofitted a home in Jasper, Alberta to be wildfire resistant.
The Jasper home retrofit includes:
•    cedar roof shingles replaced with asphalt shingles;
•    cedar siding replaced by stucco;
•    coniferous bushes replaced with deciduous plants;
•    reduction of surrounding ladder and forest litter/fuels;
•    reduction of forest litter/fuels behind property;
•    wood pile moved away from the home; and
•    providing a disaster preparedness kit.
“With more people choosing to live in the wildland/urban interface, more residential properties are exposed to the threat of wildfires,” said Paul Kovacs, ICLR’s executive director. “Homeowners living in such interface areas — indeed, families across Canada that are vulnerable to natural hazards — can prepare now for perils that will inevitably strike in the future.”
The retrofit is based on the FireSmart program. The program is endorsed by governments across Canada, the insurance industry and many other stakeholders.