Residential Mitigation Incentive Program

The Canadian Red Cross recognizes that mitigation measures can be powerful tools for protecting against future wildfires. The Residential Mitigation Incentive Program provides financial incentives for people living in impacted areas who are interested in completing mitigative activities to be better prepared for and help reduce risks and the impacts of future wildfire events.

Please note that the application period for this program closed on October 31, 2025. Applications will not be accepted after this date.

Available Funding

There were a range of activities to choose from, including activities that should be completed annually and more substantial projects. Depending on the activities chosen and completed, households could be eligible for a reimbursement of up to $3,000 to help with associated costs. The amount of reimbursement they could receive depended on the specific activities they undertook.

Households whose applications were approved are required to provide proof of the work completed (by providing before and after photos) and, for some activities, are also required to submit receipts to be eligible for reimbursement. Approved applicants will have received information on their next steps based on the activities that were approved.

Please note that there were limited funds available for this program. Eligible residents were encouraged to apply as soon as possible.

Eligibility Criteria

The Residential Mitigation Incentive Program was available to those who:

Are residents of Nova Scotia with a primary residence in an area that was impacted by the 2023 Nova Scotia Wildfires
Were previously registered and authenticated with the Canadian Red Cross due to the 2023 Nova Scotia Wildfires
Are a homeowner, a tenant, or live in a community-owned home
Have a primary residence that was not damaged or incurred minor damage due to the 2023 Nova Scotia Wildfires

Applicants had to select from the following list of eligible mitigation activities. Please note that eligible mitigation activities may have varied based on whether you are a homeowner or a tenant, and the type of dwelling in which you live.

The following activities had to be completed on or after July 22, 2025, to be eligible for reimbursement under this program:

*Eligible tenant activities are marked with an (*) asterisk.

Perform roof maintenance/repairs (maximum reimbursement of $100)
Repair windows and/or exterior doors (maximum reimbursement of $100)
Repair cracks, gaps, or holes in exterior cladding/siding (maximum reimbursement of $100)
Build or purchase an emergency preparedness kit in case of evacuation or shelter-in-place orders (maximum reimbursement of $50)*
Remove debris from eavestroughs around your home (maximum reimbursement of $50) *
Remove all combustible ground cover, such as mulch and plants, within 1.5m of the house perimeter (maximum reimbursement of $50) *
Remove combustible materials (firewood, lumber and non-fire-resistant vegetation) stored within 10m of house perimeter and from under the decks (maximum reimbursement of $50) *
Prune trees to create a 2 meters clearance from the ground to the lowest tree branches (maximum reimbursement of $50) *
Create a fire safe apartment patio or balcony: clear combustible items like dry leaves, cardboard boxes, and other flammable items (maximum reimbursement of $50) *
Create a fire safe apartment patio or balcony: purchase fire-resistant furniture and / or planters (maximum reimbursement of $100) *
Replace existing roofing with Class A fire-rated roofing (maximum reimbursement of $1,500)
Replace combustible siding with non-combustible or ignition resistant material (maximum reimbursement of $1,500)
Install/retrofit all deck boards (including stair treads and railings) with fire-rated materials (maximum reimbursement of $1,500)
Replace exterior doors with ones that are fire-rated and thermally insulated (maximum reimbursement of $1,500)
FireSmartTM Tree Replacement * (maximum reimbursement of $1,500) – refer to the list of qualifying tree types for this activity.
Install non-combustible gutter guards (maximum reimbursement of $150)
Purchase of a wildfire suppression gutter or roof mounted sprinkler system (maximum reimbursement of $200)

Eligible activities completed before July 22, 2025

Recognizing that some households may have completed mitigation activities before the program launch, a select number of activities were also open for reimbursement for those who completed activities between May 28, 2023 and July 22, 2025. Those activities were:

Replacement of existing roofing with Class A fire-rated roofing
Replacement of combustible siding with non-combustible or ignition-resistant material
Installation/retrofitting of all deck boards (including stair treads and railings) with fire-rated materials
Replacement of exterior doors with ones that are fire-rated and thermally insulated
FireSmart^TM Tree Replacement*

Deadline to Apply

The application period was from July 22, 2025, to October 31, 2025. All activities must be completed, with a final report, including receipts and photos, submitted by September 30, 2026.

FRAUD ALERT: Unfortunately, there are some people who may try to take advantage of those impacted by a disaster through fraudulent tactics. The Canadian Red Cross communicates only via email, phone, or in person and would never send a link through a text message for a person to click on to receive funds. We will never ask for your social insurance number, bank account information or credit card number during your registration or to receive assistance. The Canadian Red Cross encourages people to stay informed from credible sources, such as the Government of Canada’s website for fraud prevention tips. If you suspect you have been a victim of fraudulent activity, please contact your local police authority.

Protect yourself from scams and fraud

Contact Us

If you have questions about the Residential Mitigation Incentive Program, please email us at NSMitigation@redcross.ca or call and leave a message at 1-833-966-4225. Someone will respond to you within 2 business days.

Resources for Applicants

Frequently Asked Questions
SM Apply Guide
Guide to Residential Wildfire Mitigation
Activity Table
Mitigation Activity Flow Chart
Create an emergency preparedness home kit
FireSmartTM Landscaping Guide
Tree Species for FireSmartTM Landscaping

We want to hear from you

The mission of the Canadian Red Cross is to help those in times of need. We are always trying to improve our systems, processes, and programs to better serve you. We encourage you to provide feedback on your experience or interactions with us.

If you would like to share any feedback or have questions, please email us at CRCfeedback3@redcross.ca If you would like a response to your email, please ensure to include your full name, address, current phone number and as much detail and specifics as possible. These details will help us to better respond to your email.

Your feedback is important to us. Due to the high volume of emails we receive, we will respond to your email as soon as possible. For journalists and media outlets, please find a listing of all media contacts here.