Neebing invites applicants to its new FireSmart committee.

Neebing residents have until Wednesday to apply for the municipality's new FireSmart committee, and appointments will be announced at the Feb. 4 council meeting.

Neebing has opened applications for a new FireSmart committee and residents have until Wednesday to apply. The committee is meant to help reduce the number of local wildfires. FireSmart Canada is a Winnipeg-based non-profit program that began in 1993 and focuses on developments near forested areas. The program and provincial materials note that homes close to forests are particularly vulnerable in wildland-urban interface zones. Key details: - Application deadline for residents is Wednesday. - Appointments to the committee will be announced at the municipality's Feb. 4 council meeting. - FireSmart Canada began in 1993 and works with communities near forested areas. - FireSmart guidance includes creating non-combustible zones and reducing shrubs, evergreen trees and dead woody material within 10 metres of buildings. - Rural Thunder Bay volunteer fire departments have struggled in recent years with spring grass fires, which have often been reported as human-caused. - More information and the application are available at neebing.org/committees. Summary: Neebing's new FireSmart committee is planned to promote public education about how wildfires start and to advocate for broader vegetation management in the Northwest region. Appointments will be announced at the Feb. 4 council meeting and the application deadline is Wednesday.