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FireHard was built by a small team in Smithers, BC. Wildfire resilience is bigger than any small group.

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ABOUT

Built in wildfire country

FireHard was built on evenings and weekends by a small team of building science professionals in Smithers, BC — a town of 5,400 people in northern British Columbia where wildfire smoke fills the valley every summer. We’re transitioning to a federal not-for-profit so this work belongs to everyone.

Aerial view of a Canadian mountain town — homes backing directly onto dense coniferous forest with wildfire smoke on the horizon

This is the wildland-urban interface. Forest meets subdivision. Every home on that edge needs a plan.

Community wildfire programs manage vegetation and defensible space. The NRC Guide provides the science. FireHard provides construction guidance — the layer that turns research into buildable assemblies.

WHO WE NEED

Review, test, and help us improve

Communities

Reference FireHard in DPAs. Use CNEL for subdivision review.

Engineers & architects

Review specs. Challenge assumptions. Help us get it right.

Insurance providers

WER as a binary risk differentiator. Measurable.

Builders & contractors

Test guides on real projects. Tell us what costs we got wrong.

Researchers

Field validation data. Adoption studies. Material testing.

Homeowners

Use it. Tell us if it made sense. Share what it cost.

CONNECT

Express interest

Community Survey

5 minutes. Anonymous. Your input shapes our priorities.

Take the Survey
DOCUMENT LIBRARY

All documents

Every FireHard document, free. Published under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0.

Design Guides (6)
WER-1 Ember Defence

Roof, vents, gaps, perimeter.

 WER-2 Radiant Heat

Windows, siding, soffits on exposed faces.

 WER-3 Flame Defence

Full NC envelope on exposed faces.

 WER-4 Flame Zone

P.Eng. required.

 New Construction

All levels consolidated for new builds.

 Self-Assessment

Printable walkthrough for existing homes.
Technical Reference (4)
WER·CNEL v1.2

Complete system documentation and lookup tables.

 Assembly Reference

Construction details per element per level.

 CNEL Guide

Structure-to-structure protection.

 Disclaimers

Legal framework and limitations.
Modules & Bulletins (11)
Module 1: Openings

Windows, doors, glazing.

 Module 2: Roof & Eaves

Coverings, soffits, fascia, gutters.

 Module 3: Vents

Screening and sealing.

 Module 4: Decks

Decks, pergolas, carports.

 Module 5: Site

Fencing, landscaping, perimeter.

 Module 6: Walls

Cladding and assemblies.

 TB-01: Assembly Design

How to read assembly specs.

 TB-02: High-Risk Features

Common dangerous features.

 TB-03: New Normal

Canada's changing fire landscape.

 TB-04: Subdivisions

CNEL in new developments.

 TB-05: First Nations

Indigenous community guidance.
Community & Background (3)
Communities Guide

Municipal adoption guidance.

 Why Wildfire Is Different

The case for hardening.

 Media Package

Press materials and expert bio.