A record-breaking 69 registrants took part in View Royal’s FireSmart Mobile Chipping Event on June 28, helping clear 28 cubic yards of flammable debris from local properties. View Royal Fire Rescue announced the results on Monday, June 30, 2026, giving credit to residents for their commitment to wildfire safety.
The free event allowed locals to drop off coniferous branches such as cedar, juniper, pine, spruce, and fir that can easily catch fire during wildfire season. The View Royal FireSmart Program regularly runs these chipping days, but the June turnout was the highest yet.
Wildfire prevention work has ramped up across Vancouver Island this year, with snowpack levels at just 44 per cent of normal and a 62 per cent chance of a strong El Nino by late summer. The higher-risk conditions make removing combustible vegetation around homes a key safety step.
View Royal has been strengthening its wildfire resilience through several initiatives, including completing a Community Wildfire Resiliency Plan in January 2025 and becoming home to Greater Victoria’s first FireSmart Canada Recognized Neighbourhood at the Stonecliffe Strata on Chilco Road earlier this year.
Ryan Eason, FireSmart Coordinator and Wildfire Mitigation Specialist with View Royal Fire Rescue, can be reached at [email protected] or 250-479-7322 for more information on future chipping events and property assessments.
