What is a Fire Break?
Good question!
A fire break is a strip of open space on a land. This strip of open space must be wide enough, exposing bare ground with no vegetation growing and be free of combustible materials. This open space is an effective tool in containing and preventing the spread of raging flames.
Property owners within proximity to the mountain, farms or vegetation are mandated to have fire breaks in place. There is also a responsibility to maintain the fire break and to ensure that no soil erosion happens.
So, what happens should no fire break be in place, or a fire break not be maintained? In addition to the offences and penalties pointed out during our previous blog post, non-compliance may lead to the repudiation of an insurance claim for damage caused by the fire. On top of then having to cover your property’s damage personally (following the insurance repudiation), the owner of a neighboring property may also institute a claim for his damages against you. The city may furthermore force compliance by clearing a fire break on your behalf and holding you liable for those construction costs.
A fire break must be as close as possible to the border of adjoining properties and at least 2.5 meters wide. Often access (unpaved) roads between properties also serve as a fire break. These roads have become vital in providing adequate emergency vehicle access between properties.
