The B.C. government has provided more than $1.2 million in grants to 13 local governments and First Nations in the Prince George Fire Centre to support wildfire risk reduction initiatives and help keep communities safe.

These Community Resiliency Investment (CRI) grants are part of a total of more than $15 million provided to 118 recipients throughout B.C., following the latest application intake in the program’s FireSmart Community Funding and Supports category.

“Mitigating wildfire threats is crucial to help safeguard people, homes and businesses throughout the province,” said Katrine Conroy, Minister of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development. “Since the Community Resiliency Investment program was established in 2018, our government has approved 366 grants to local governments and First Nations totalling over $37 million.”

Funding provided through CRI’s FireSmart Community Funding and Supports category helps Indigenous and non-Indigenous governments reduce wildfire risks around their communities. Recipients can use the money for wildfire risk reduction and fire prevention activities related to the FireSmart program’s nine eligible funding areas:

• education
• vegetation management (reducing accumulations of flammable materials on the landscape)
• community planning
• development considerations (looking at ways that local governments could regulate development to incorporate FireSmart principles)
• inter-agency co-operation
• FireSmart training and cross-training
• emergency management planning
• FireSmart projects for critical infrastructure
• FireSmart activities for residential areas

Eligible applicants facing a lower wildfire risk can apply for up to $50,000 through the FireSmart Community Funding and Supports category, while applicants facing a demonstrated higher wildfire risk can apply for up to $150,000. They can apply for funding to cover up to 100% of the cost of their wildfire risk reduction projects.

Mitigating wildfire threats is a shared responsibility of the provincial government, local governments, First Nations, industry, stakeholders and individual British Columbians. The CRI program helps increase community resiliency by funding activities that promote FireSmart education, planning and opportunities for partnerships through regional FireSmart committees.

The Union of B.C. Municipalities (UBCM) administers the $60-million FireSmart Community Funding and Supports grant program, and it processes grant applications in partnership with the ministry and the First Nations’ Emergency Services Society of B.C. The next application intake opens on June 30, 2021. More information about the application process will be available on the UBCM website.

Quotes:

Roly Russell, Parliamentary Secretary for Rural Development –

“People want to be safe, and we've seen the reality of wildfire risk over the last few years, so reducing wildfire risk to B.C. communities is a top priority of our government. We are dedicated to working together with local governments and First Nations in rural B.C. to keep people out of harm’s way.”

Jennifer Rice, Parliamentary Secretary for Emergency Preparedness –

“Local governments and First Nations play a vital role in reducing wildfire risks. Through this grant program, our government is helping make communities safer and better prepared to cope with future wildfires.”

Brian Frenkel, president, Union of B.C. Municipalities –

“As the fire season heats up, B.C. residents are reminded of the hazards posed by wildfire. The funding provided through this program will increase FireSmart activity around the province and will reduce the risk of wildfire to the health and safety of our communities. I appreciate the Province’s ongoing support for these activities.”

Vale Gainor, occupational health and safety director, Nak'azdli Whut'en First Nation –

“Nak'azdli Whut'en members are very supportive of the need for fire protection. This Community Resiliency Investment grant also creates employment. The community is quite pleased, knowing that the funding has been made available to Nak'azdli Whut'en to ensure a safer place for all.”

Gary Foster, mayor, Northern Rockies Regional Municipality –

“The Northern Rockies Regional Municipality is grateful to receive funding through the Community Resiliency Investment program. With this support, we’re taking active steps to reduce the community’s wildfire risk. Throughout the past winter, we completed fuel treatments in high-risk areas identified in our 2019 Community Wildfire Protection Plan. This summer, we plan to conduct hazard assessments on private properties located in the wildland-urban interface.”

Learn More:

Community Resiliency Investment program:
https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/safety/wildfire-status/prevention/funding-for-wildfire-prevention/crip

Information about Community Resiliency Investment grants on the UBCM website: www.ubcm.ca/cri

FireSmart program: https://firesmartbc.ca/

A backgrounder follows.