Firesmart Cottage Background

The Federation of Ontario Cottagers’ Associations (FOCA) represents a large number of property owners in Ontario, who as a group have significant land holdings.   Waterfront property owners together own more than 200,000 acres of forested lands, and are key stakeholders in fire safe living.

Ontario’s cottage and camp owners are by sheer geography, a self-help group.  As rural and often remote residents, they need to be independent when it comes not only to day to day living, but also to be prepared and able to respond in times of crisis and emergency.  

FireSmart is an important complement to other FOCA programs such as the Cottage Watch Rural crime prevention partnership and safe boating initiatives with OPP, and fits nicely with our commitment to risk management for our volunteer community groups.  

Forest fires are a fact of life in Ontario, and our members are among those who are potentially at risk from the threat of fire.  The FireSmart approach to rural and woodland living helps each property owner to understand their risks, and to take proactive steps to make their families and their property safer.   

Our member associations are often the only organized voice for their respective communities.  By tapping into members' trusted connection with property owners, the important message around reducing the risks from fire and also being prepared in the event of fire – are delivered, understood and can be acted on by property owners all across Ontario.
 
FOCA is spreading the information about FireSmart Cottages fact sheets at our special events, speaking engagements, and trade shows such as the Toronto and Ottawa Cottage Shows.  FOCA has distributed FireSmart information through our member publications, on the FOCA website, and through presentations at our member events each spring and fall.  FOCA, along with the Northern Ontario Tourist Operators (NOTO), are working with MNR to embed the important Firesmart messages with each property owner in forested Ontario.  By taking simple steps on our respective properties we can protect ourselves, and others.  

Every homeowner can do something, and at different times of the year they have different opportunities to make a difference.  FOCA encourages landowners to plan ahead to protect their homes from the risk of forest fires and follow safe burning guidelines for brush and campfires.


Terry Rees is the Executive Director of FOCA, and a former fire suppression worker with the OMNR in NW Ontario.  

This article originally appeared in MNR's FireSmart Newspaper, 2009.