Using Sprinklers to Protect Your Home, Cabin, or Camp

Firefighters may not always be able to make it to your home, cabin, or camp in time when wildfire comes - especially in places without road access. It is everyone's responsibility to reduce their risk of wildfire damage. Sprinklers can help

No replacement for FireSmart

Using sprinklers is only effective if other FireSmart practices - like removing anything that could burn within 10 metres of your place - are also done. Creating defensible space - clear of trees, brush, lawn furniture, toys or anything else that can burn - is the best way to give firefighters a chance to protect your place and reduce your risk of damage.

Supplies you'll need

• Sprinklers: enough to cover buildings with water. Any kind will do - the more area they can cover, the better.
• Pumps): ensure you have enough pumps to keep pressure strong and water coverage good.
• Hoses: enough to reach from a water source, to a pump, to the locations you'll be setting up sprinklers. Wet them prior to running to prevent burning.
• Water source: lake, river, stream, or a home-based water source (i.e. outdoor tap)
  Gas or power source: your pump or home water source needs to run. Keep gas on-hand - but keep it more than 10 metres away from your home.

Where to get them

• Purchase this equipment from your local hardware store if you don't have it already.

Best practices

Focus on the primary building first: Make sure it gets good water coverage and pressure is maintained. Then focus on outbuildings if you wish.

• Elevate sprinklers: the most vulnerable location on a building is the roof if it is not metal. Elevate some sprinklers if you can.
• Get water coverage on decks and stairs if possible: these are areas which can be vulnerable as well.
  Must be running when fire approaches: It is best to have your sprinkler set up prior to fire approaching, and to run it just as fire is approaching and you are leaving
  Don't run it constantly: more than one hour per day is too much.
• Do not put your safety at risk: if you receive an evacuation alert, be ready to leave on short notice at all times. If an evacuation order is called, start your sprinklers if you can, and leave immediately.

Prepare to protect your place

• Have an emergency and evacuation plan in place for your home, cabin, or camp - protecting you and your loved ones is the most important thing. If you are unable to start your sprinklers prior to leaving, or you are not at your place when an evacuation order is called, DO NOT DELAY AND DO NOT RETURN.
• If an evacuation order is issued, start your sprinklers ONLY IF IT IS SAFE and leave immediately. This is no time to begin setting them up.
• Even if you can't run sprinklers in time, having them set up saves time for firefighters protecting your home.
• Keep these fire tools on site and accessible - especially when wildfire risk is higher - to save time for firefighters:
  • Ladders
  • Shovels/rakes
  • Garden hoses
  • Axes