A Vernon strata is in the middle of a transformation, and while the end result will be less greenery around its perimeter, its residents will rest easier knowing their homes will safer from the threat of fires. 

The Spruce Landing strata on 41st Street is having all of its cedars and juniper shrubs removed as part of a FireSmart project. On Wednesday crews from Ryder Ventures were busy removing the cedars along 25th Avenue, to be replaced with metal fencing by Blue Rhino Fencing, as well as rocks and fire-resistant plants. 

One westbound lane has been closed on 25th to make way for crews, who are expected to finish the project in about two weeks. 

The project is a collaboration between the strata and the City of Vernon. Roughly 2,200 feet of cedar is being removed from strata-owned property, and another 450 feet of cedar and juniper will be removed from city-owned property. 

Wes Brassard, FireSmart coordinator for the city, called the project "a really big job," with the strata working with the city to remove all of its cedars and junipers "all in one shot."

Spruce Landing is "one of the first stratas in B.C. to undertake such a large project and remove this amount of  cedars," Brassard said. "We applaud the strata for undertaking all of the initiative at one point, instead of just little pieces at a time."

The cedars along the strata property on 25th Avenue saw some close calls with fires earlier this year. Vernon Fire Chief David Lind said large sections of the hedge were consumed by flames on two occasions, with "lots of smoke, and lots of risk to the strata."

"We got fortunate," Lind said. "Those fires happened in April when conditions were favourable and the fire engines were just around the block, so it worked out. If this had been later in the year in August or September when the conditions were different, there could have been different outcomes. So this kind of work is so important."

Ron McCreary, a representative with the strata, said when Spruce Landing owners were first presented with the project proposal about half of them were against it. But after they held some presentations educating owners about the fire risk, the vast majority were on board. 

Ivy McMahon was one of those owners who changed her mind about the project after those presentations. 

A resident at Spruce Landing since 2005, McMahon said at first she was against the idea of having a fence replace the hedges, but after the presentations she felt the project was "a no brainer."

Strata owners will have to split the bill on the project, which McCreary said "was not a cheap venture," but for McMahon the benefits outweigh the cost.

"It's either my life or the cedars, one of them has to go," she said.

Brassard said the city is working with a dozen other neighbourhoods in town to assess their properties and come up with a game plan to reduce their fire risk. He added a fire mitigation project is being pursued on Eastside Road which ties into FireSmart work that has already been done at Ellison Provincial Park. 

"We're trying to build resiliency in Vernon, and it takes the community and private residents to achieve that," he said.

Lind pointed out that such collaboration is essential, because the city manages only 10 per cent of the lands within its boundaries, and 80 per cent is privately owned, meaning efforts to fire-proof the city will need to rely on partnerships like the one between the city and Spruce Landing. 

The City of Vernon has allocated about $16,000 for the project, funded through the Parks Department. 

Once the project is complete, Spruce Landing will receive FireSmart Canada Neighbourhood Recognition certification. 

For more information on the city's FireSmart program, visit , or contact the FireSmart coordinator at firesmartcoordinator@vernon.ca.