The B.C. government and the Union of British Columbia Municipalities are providing new grants totalling $500,000 to help communities identify and take action to reduce wildfire risks on private land.

Fifty grants of up to $10,000 each will be made available to local governments and First Nations through the Strategic Wildfire Prevention Initiative (SWPI).

The 2016 SWPI FireSmart Grant program will support communities to plan for wildfire prevention activities on private lands, as identified through the FireSmart Communities Program. FireSmart activities help decrease wildfire threats to homes and property and can prevent damage to structures, increase the effectiveness of firefighters and safeguard fire-suppression resources.

Funding provided through the 2016 SWPI FireSmart Grant program may be used to:

• Enhance public awareness of FireSmart principles.
• Increase community participation in FireSmart activities.
• Advance planning to address wildfire mitigation on private land.
• Help communities obtain official recognition as “FireSmart Communities”.

FireSmart recognition involves engaging neighbours, property owners, local government and First Nations authorities and other agencies to meet a set of recognition criteria to assist communities become more resilient to wildfire.

The Strategic Wildfire Prevention Initiative is administered by the Provincial Fuel Management Working Group, which includes the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations, the Union of British Columbia Municipalities and the First Nations’ Emergency Services Society. The FireSmart Communities program is administered by Partners in Protection Association (PiP).

Applications for the SWPI FireSmart Grant program are being accepted until Nov. 30, 2015. The Program & Application Guide and Application Form is available on the UBCM website: http://www.ubcm.ca/EN/main/funding/lgps/current-lgps-programs/strategic-wildfire-prevention.html

For more information about the 2016 SWPI FireSmart Grant program, contact the Union of British Columbia Municipalities at lgps@ubcm.ca or 250 356-2947.

Quotes:

Minister of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations Steve Thomson –

“Homeowners who live in interface areas can help protect their properties from wildfires by using FireSmart principles. This new grant program will help communities and First Nations raise awareness of this important work and become recognized as FireSmart Communities.”

Sav Dhaliwal, president, Union of B.C. Municipalities –

“I am glad to see another funding option to support local governments and First Nations as they engage with residents regarding FireSmart principles and practices. This new offering is the result of a longstanding working relationship between the Province of B.C. and UBCM in the area of wildfire preparedness and mitigation.”

Kelly Johnston, executive director of the Partners in Protection Association –

“One B.C. municipality has been recognized with a Community Protection Achievement Award, while another community and multiple communities in eight different First Nations have been recognized as FireSmart Communities for their work in reducing wildfire threats. I’m looking forward to adding more communities to that list as a result of this new grant program.”

Quick Facts:

• Since 2004, over $68 million has been directed through the Strategic Wildfire Prevention Initiative to help local governments and First Nations significantly reduce wildfire risks around their communities.
• As of Sept. 1, 2015, 286 Community Wildfire Protection Plans have been completed by local governments and First Nations and another 44 are in progress. Completed fuel treatments and risk reduction efforts covered 78,245 hectares in and around communities that face a significant wildfire risk.
• Logan Lake has been awarded a Community Protection Achievement Certificate (for local governments).
• The Anarchist Mountain Community (near Osoyoos) has been recognized as a FireSmart Community, along with multiple communities in the following First Nations: T’it’q’et First Nation, Xwisten First Nation (Bridge River Indian Band), Whispering Pines/Clinton Indian Band, Shackan Indian Band, Nooaitch First Nation, Ts’kw’aylaxw First Nation, Coldwater Indian Band and Esk’etemc First Nation.

Learn More:

Homeowners who live in interface areas can help protect their properties from wildfire risks by using FireSmart principles. More information is available online: http://bcwildfire.ca/Prevention/firesmart.htm

The Homeowner’s FireSmart Manual was developed to help reduce the risk of personal property damage due to wildfires. Copies are available on the BC Wildfire Service website: http://bcwildfire.ca/Prevention/firesmart.htm