Predator Ridge says it has added layers of wildfire preparedness since its first FireSmart designation in 2016, including 24/7 on-site fire response and an expanded detection and water-mitigation setup.
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Predator Ridge says it has continued to expand its wildfire preparedness approach since receiving its first FireSmart designation in 2016, adding new measures each year to improve how it can respond as conditions change.
The community’s director of land management and development, TJ McNamara, said the need to adjust practices became clear after the Okanagan Mountain Park fire in 2003, which destroyed 213 homes in the Kelowna area. “After 2003, we realized things had changed,” McNamara said. “The fires were getting bigger and more aggressive, and we had to change our practices. How we prepare and educate ourselves as homeowners, the better we are as a community. It’s a collective effort, one that requires ongoing education.”
Predator Ridge says it relies on a resident-led Community Safety Committee that works year-round on wildfire preparedness, including education, property risk assessments and community clean-up initiatives aimed at reducing fuel loads.
The community says it also has a designated fire station on site, operated by Vernon Fire Rescue Services. During high-risk season, it is staffed 24/7, while volunteer firefighters are available during the rest of the year to act as first responders while professional resources are mobilized, according to the community.
For early detection, Predator Ridge says it invested in SenseNet wildfire detection technology and currently uses more than 100 sensors, gateways and cameras to provide coverage around the community. It says the system uses gas sensing, thermal imaging and artificial-intelligence-enabled cameras, and is monitored 24/7 in coordination with Vernon Fire Rescue Services and emergency management.
Predator Ridge says the technology helps the response team put “eyes on” an alert quickly. McNamara said: “If a sensor goes off, we can put eyes on it quickly and send the right resources. We don’t have to guess what to bring. That has been a huge tool for us.”
The community also points to water and irrigation infrastructure on its golf courses, saying its irrigation system can be used during periods of elevated risk to increase local humidity and reduce the potential for fire to spread. It says that this summer it added a dedicated two-inch irrigation line along the entire boundary between Ellison Park and Predator Ridge, with sprinkler heads approximately every 80 feet.
Predator Ridge says its irrigation line can be activated remotely without anyone on site, and because it is on a gravity-fed line it can operate without power. The community also says it is connected to the City of Vernon’s municipal water and other services, including numerous fire hydrants throughout the community.
The community said its layered preparedness was tested during the 2023 Okanagan wildfires, when Vernon Fire Rescue crews worked from the Predator Ridge on-site fire station for more than 700 hours. It says auxiliary firefighters, security personnel and Predator Ridge staff also conducted patrols, assessed routes and implemented preventative measures.
Predator Ridge said preparedness is not limited to emergencies, citing that a lightning storm two years ago produced five spot fires in the area. It said Predator Ridge worked with neighbouring property owners and emergency responders to share information and resources, and that this collaboration has since evolved into a broader stakeholder network.
McNamara said wildfire preparedness depends on cooperation beyond any single community, adding: “Being fire smart around your home is critical. The better we prepare, educate ourselves and work together as homeowners and as a community, the better positioned we are.”
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