Port Alberni homeowners can now get a free wildfire safety check on their property and may qualify for up to $5,000 in rebates for fire-proofing work. The Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District (ACRD) Emergency Program announced the FireSmart initiative on May 25, 2026, aiming to help residents reduce wildfire risks around their homes.
Residents in the City of Port Alberni, as well as Beaver Creek, Cherry Creek, Sproat Lake, Beaufort, and the Tseshaht and Hupacasath First Nations can take part. The free home assessment identifies hazards like overgrown vegetation or flammable materials too close to the house. Following the check, homeowners can apply for a rebate that covers half the cost of eligible mitigation work, up to a maximum of $5,000.
Sproat Lake Volunteer Fire Department Chief Mike Cann stressed the importance of residents taking action on their own land. “The most important message he wants to share with the public is to FireSmart their own properties,” he said, underlining the key role homeowners play in community wildfire safety.
The push comes as the region faces a risky wildfire season. BC Wildfire Service reported that by May, the Coastal Fire Centre had already seen 30 wildfires burning 140 hectares since April 1, more than double the 10-year average, with most caused by people. Although the centre lifted an early campfire ban on May 15, the City of Port Alberni and the Tseshaht and Hupacasath First Nations have kept their own fire bans in place.
Last year, the Mount Underwood wildfire burned 3,518 hectares near Port Alberni, forcing extended evacuations in what the ACRD called the worst wildfire in its history. The new FireSmart program gives residents a direct way to help protect their homes from similar threats.
