Gabriola Volunteer Fire Department

FireSmart Landscape Waste Drop Off

 

April 26th 2025 - April 27th 2025

8:00am  to 11:45am

​

The GVFD’s FireSmart Project, in partnership with GaLTT and the Ministry of Transportation, will be hosting a landscape waste disposal event on June 15th and 16th from 8:00 to 12:00 near the South Rd Fire Hall. If you are a Gabriola resident and have landscape waste from your property in need of disposal, this is your opportunity to drop it off. The location will be announced.

 

 Wondering what you can bring to our FireSmart Drop Off Days? 

 

 Sticks

 

 Branches

 

 Leaves                                                      

                                                

 Plant Material        

                                                            

 Invasives                                                  

 

 Stumps  (No) 

​

 Painted or Treated Lumber    (No)      

 

 Dump Trucks / Dump Trailers (No)

 

 Commercial Vehicles (No)

 

  Building Materials / Construction waste (No)

 

  Plastics / Metals  (No)

                                                            

 

No early birds or late admittance. No stumps or commercial vehicles, Gabriola residents only. The site will be under surveillance, all loads will be inspected, and signing a waiver when you check in will be required.

 

Drop Off Days FAQ:

 

What is FireSmart? 

The best tool we have available to increase our community’s resilience to wildfire, and prevent catastrophic losses to assets and critical infrastructure. The FireSmart program suggests altering the landscape around structures to help decrease the chance that they ignite during a wildfire. Learn more by visiting www.firesmartbc.ca, and learn more about the RDN’s wildfire resiliency plans at www.getinvolved.rdn.ca/rdn-wildfire-resiliency

You can also book a free FireSmart Home Assessment with our team for a 1:1 consultation, or contact our FireSmart Coordinator at gabriolafireprevention@gmail.com to learn more about the program. 

 

What can I bring?

Any landscaping waste material generated from yard clean up and FireSmarting activities!

No stumps, treated or painted wood, plywood, construction waste, plastics or synthetic materials. No commercial vehicles. All loads will be inspected to ensure no prohibited materials end up in the pile, and all participants must sign a waiver.

​

Can I drop off more than one load? 

Absolutely. As long as you arrive within the times the site will be open, you are welcome to bring as many loads of approved material as you like. 

 

Will I have to unload the vehicle myself?

Yes, you are responsible for loading, transporting safely, and unloading. 

 

Is there a fee?

No! As many of you know, managing this kind of fuel is increasingly difficult in our community. With tighter residential burning regulations, no curbside pickup, no local dumpsite, and the very real cost of removing material from the island, this event has been organized to help our community start problem solving this issue.

 

What are you going to do with this waste?

First, measure it! This kind of data is extremely useful to us in applying for grants, and appealing to the RDN to allocate resources to our community, and to help us create long term solutions. 

Most of the material will then be burned in a GVFD wildfire training exercise, and the ash composted. 

 

Will you do this again?

If we can! We are currently exploring many different options for fuel management in our community, and hope to be able to offer more events to help people manage their fuel loads in the future.