Office of the Premier
The Province is helping more than 200 volunteer fire departments enhance their capabilities by funding new training and equipment to better keep people in British Columbia safe.
“Many people living in smaller or remote B.C. communities are served by hard-working volunteer or partly volunteer fire departments. These departments don’t have the same resources found in larger communities,” said George Heyman, acting Minister of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness, and Minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy. “We’re supporting these fire departments with funding for equipment and training to ensure people are safer and better protected by enhanced local firefighting capability that meets local needs.”
Through the Community Emergency Preparedness Fund (CEPF), the Province is providing more than $6.2 million for 122 local projects, benefiting more than 200 volunteer and composite fire departments. Composite fire departments are those that have a mix of staff and volunteers. Most communities in B.C. rely on volunteer firefighters to protect people, homes and businesses. These local projects will help ensure volunteer firefighters have the resources and training they need to keep their communities safe from fire.
Since 2017, more than $17 million has been provided to volunteer and composite fire departments through the CEPF for additional equipment and training. This funding also helps fire departments meet the B.C. structure firefighter minimum training standards.
“Keeping people in our communities safe is a top priority and supporting our volunteer fire departments is key,” said Mike Farnworth, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General. “The funding through the Community Emergency Preparedness Fund shows our commitment to helping local crews in smaller communities. We’re investing in training, equipment and mental-health support to improve firefighting and care for our front-line workers. This effort strengthens our push to build strong, resilient communities across British Columbia.”
Funding will be provided to local governments, First Nations, and volunteer and composite fire departments for various projects, such as:
- Creating a mental-health peer-support team for all 15 of the Cowichan Valley Regional District’s volunteer fire departments, including a four-day critical-incident stress-management course to help firefighters better deal with the pressures of the job.
- Upgrading and replacing equipment, and purchasing new equipment, including a quick-connect deluge gun, which will help put out fires quickly with limited personnel, for the Sandspit Volunteer Fire Department.
- New relay tanks to increase water-supply capabilities, improve refill time and replace older gear for the Skeetchestn Fire Department.
- Hands-on training, personnel and demonstration props, such as fire-window simulators, thermal imaging cameras and rescue mannequins, for 16 volunteer fire departments in the Regional District of Central Kootenay.
CEPF helps communities mitigate and prepare for emergencies by funding local projects and initiatives in several categories. These include disaster-risk reduction and climate adaptation, public notification and evacuation-route planning, and emergency support-services equipment and training.
The Province has invested $369 million into CEPF since it was established in 2017. Approximately $176 million has been provided to First Nations and local governments through CEPF for as many as 1,700 projects that help communities prepare for disasters and climate-related emergencies. The CEPF is administered by the Union of BC Municipalities for the Province.
Quotes:
Rochelle Porter, public works manager, Skeetchestn Indian Band –
“The recent grant benefited the Skeetchestn Fire Department on two fronts. Firstly, to replace outdated turnout gear that will enhance firefighter safety and, secondly, to enable a purchase of relay tanks to enhance our ability to provide adequate water supply during urban-interface fire responses. Both items are much needed and much appreciated by the Skeetchestn community.”
Robb Schoular, manager, Fire Rescue Services, Cowichan Valley Regional District (CVRD) –
“This funding for equipment, protective clothing and training will allow CVRD volunteer fire departments to reallocate their equipment and training budgets to other critical purchases, such as replacement air tanks, breathing apparatus, necessary radio upgrades and replace aging turnout gear. It will also provide training to Cowichan area first responders for peer support and mental-health first aid. This vital training allows 30 peer-support team members to deliver critical-incident stress management support to more than 350 first responders/firefighters.”
Barbara Roden, board chair, Thompson Nicola Regional District (TNRD) –
“The Community Emergency Preparedness Fund provides the Thompson-Nicola Regional District the opportunity to increase capacity and resiliency for our nine fire departments and their communities. This funding enables the purchase of equipment for initial assistance with wildfire response. This funding also enables equipment purchases that support uniformity among TNRD departments, and compliance with the B.C. Structure Firefighter Minimum Training Standards. The quality gear and equipment purchased with this grant will enhance firefighter effectiveness in emergency-response efforts, strengthen firefighter confidence and increase job resiliency.”
Robert Ells, fire chief, Sandspit Volunteer Fire Department –
“It is difficult for rural fire departments to make ends meet these days without essential programs like the Community Emergency Preparedness Fund. This funding will allow us to replace 20-year-old handheld radios and purchase respiratory and personal protection equipment to keep our volunteer firefighters safe. We couldn't afford the equipment without the grant.”
Trish Mandewo, president, Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) –
“Rural and remote communities depend on volunteer firefighters to protect homes and businesses during times of emergency. By upgrading the equipment, training and support available to volunteer and composite fire departments, the Community Emergency Preparedness Fund enhances the safety of communities and firefighters. This is a welcome funding program, which UBCM is glad to administer on behalf of the Province.”
Learn More:
For information about the Office of the Fire Commissioner, visit: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/safety/public-safety/fire-safety
For information about the Community Emergency Preparedness Fund, visit: https://www.ubcm.ca/cepf
A backgrounder follows.
