Proposed hanges to a city bylaw requiring new country residential properties to protect their homes against forest fires would not affect existing property owners.

Mike Gau, the city's planning manager, said Thursday his department will be presenting city council with a clarification on an amendment to the city's building and plumbing bylaw.

The clarification on the bylaw amendment, which has gone through first and second readings in council chambers, would ensure only new country residential properties would be required by law to FireSmart their properties.

FireSmarting requirements, he said, would be attached to building permits and technically impact current country residential homeowners who would have to pull a permit to build additions to their existing homes.

'The bylaw needs a little rewording,' he said. 'There is no desire to affect current country residential properties.'

Proposed amendments to the bylaw were presented to council at a meeting with senior managers in late May.

The amendments would require all new country residential subdivisions to FireSmart their properties a process which involves clearing a 10-metre circle around their homes of coniferous trees such as spruce and pine and thinning an area a further 20 metres.

The proposal does not call for the clearing of deciduous tress such as birch.

Gau said the bylaw is intended to address construction at the new Whitehorse Copper subdivision, in which 100-plus lots will be released later this coming summer.

Two private country residential developments Raven's Ridge next to the Fish Lake Road and Fox Haven Estates next to the Meadow Lakes golf course- have already had FireSmart requirements enforced.

'It's not an issue in urban areas because of the clearing that is done,' said Gau.

Jeff Luehmann, co-owner of the Meadow Lakes golf course and developer of Fox Haven Estates, said FireSmarting requirements have not affected sales of his new subdivision.

'It's not a big deal; most of it has been done. There's no concern whatsoever,' he said.

'Lots are selling great.'

Luehmann said he's made all prospective buyers aware of their FireSmarting requirements. Purchasers have indicated they will complete the work within the two-year required time frame, he added.

'They'll be at least four or five houses built before the snow flies.'

Clive Sparks, Whitehorse's fire chief, said while there are already existing requirements to FireSmart subdivision boundaries he feels it's equally important to FireSmart individual properties.

Sparks said there are three main reasons FireSmarting is important: it helps protect people's homes from forest fires; it helps protect the forest from house fires; and it gives firefighters space between the home and the forest in which to fight blazes.

'FireSmarting around the property improves the chances of putting in a firefighter to protect the property.

'Where we can put a firefighter in safely to fight a fire, we will; where we can't, we won't,' he said.

Sparks said while insurance rates are not yet reduced because of FireSmarting, he believes they should be.