Protecting your house and property

Follow these instructions to reduce the risks associated with forest fires and better protect your house and property.

When a spreading fire does not endanger your safety or that of your surroundings, follow the instructions below to protect your home and limit the risks associated with forest fires.

• Control the vegetation around your house, cottage or trailer if they are located in a forested area to avoid having a large number of flammable plants in close proximity to the buildings.
• Demarcate a zone free of trees, dry hay and wood (or items made of wood) between the vegetation and the buildings.
• Store building materials, firewood and propane tanks at a distance of over 10 metres from all buildings.
• Remove all vegetation within a 3-metre radius from all propane tanks, to limit the risk of a fire spreading.
• Keep a garden hose or a water supply of at least 200 litres close to your home to allow for quickly dousing any fire that starts.
• If you smoke outside, put out your butts with water or crush them against a rock, then throw them away in a recipient designed for that purpose.
• Your home’s roof and exterior siding constitute a large surface where combustible debris can accumulate. Remove all combustible debris from these areas and maintain them adequately, with a view to limiting the risk of fire due to direct flames as well as embers and sparks carried by the wind.
• Examine all building doors and windows (including the garage door) to ensure they are airtight and free of spaces where flammable matter could enter (e.g., stove fans and ventilation outlets with defective dampers, cracks or other damage near doors or windows).
• Regularly clear all debris from your balcony or terrace, and avoid storing combustible materials underneath them (e.g., wood, propane tanks).
• Work with your neighbours to reap the rewards of a collective effort.

For further information on how to protect your dwellings, go to the SOPFEU Web site.

If you have to replace cards, licences, or certificates issued by government departments and bodies or if you want to obtain information on government programs and services, please contact Services Québec.