RMWB FireSmart inspector. Image via rmwb.ca
Fort McMurray, AB – Homeowners across the region can now apply for rebates to help cover the cost of wildfire-resilient upgrades. The money is available through the FireSmart Home Rebate Program, a joint effort by the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo and the Canadian Red Cross. Up to $4,000 is available per home for improvements such as new siding, roofing, decks, and windows.
The program is open to residents in all RMWB communities. To qualify, homeowners must first book a free FireSmart home assessment and then complete the recommended upgrades. Funding is limited and will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis. Only one rebate is available per address and per homeowner.
To get started, residents can request a FireSmart Home Assessment through the municipal website at rmwb.ca/firesmart or by calling Pulse. Once the assessment is complete, homeowners should review the report and make a plan to upgrade any materials identified as not acceptable.
Eligible projects include replacing damaged asphalt shingles, upgrading wooden decks and siding to fire-resistant materials, or swapping out single-pane windows for multi-pane options. Homeowners must take before and after photos of the completed work and submit them along with receipts to firesmart@rmwb.ca.
If funding is still available, municipal staff will schedule a follow-up inspection to verify the upgrades. Approved homeowners will then be able to pick up their rebate cheque at Firehall 5 on Saprae Creek Trail.
For more information, visit rmwb.ca/firesmart or call Pulse at 780-743-7000.
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