Open House at North Shore Fire Hall Hosts Wildfire Resilience Initiative

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On October 24, 2026, the North Shore fire hall became a gathering spot for neighbours, local firefighters, regional FireSmart staff, and members of the Duhamel Watershed Society to talk about the Wildfire Resilience Initiative and what it could mean for the area. DWS thanks our local fire department for accommodating us!

Residents of the Six Mile area attended an open house at the North Shore Fire Hall on October 24, 2026 where Duhamel Watershed Society was in attendance.

The open house gave people a chance to ask questions in person, share concerns, and learn more about practical steps that can help homes, properties, and natural areas stand a better chance during wildfire season.

The DWS received grant money from the Columbia Basin Trust with support from the Province of BC to develop the Wildfire Resilience Initiative between 2025 and 2027. The project has two components, forest fuel management in Lower Six Mile and on the Heddle Bench, and a water availability analysis that will map water sources in our communities for the benefit of wildland firefighters and response planning. We've hired local forest professionals to develop plans for fuel management and are working with Living Lakes Canada to conduct the water availability analysis following methods that helped save structures during the Argenta fire in 2024.

At the event on October 24, we encouraged community members to get involved with the Wildfire Resilience Initiative. We're actively seeking volunteers from within the Six Mile area to help collect data supporting the water availability analysis, which will occur over the next several months. In the new year, we expect to host public site tours of proposed fuel management areas and invite local residents to stay tuned for more information. Send us an email or use the contact form on our website to get in touch about volunteer opportunities.

Thanks for coming out to chat with us last month!