Summary

• The 2027 FireSmart Community Funding and Supports (FCFS) program intake opens on Oct. 1, 2026
• As part of Budget 2026, $15 million is available to support core FireSmart activities and projects in communities throughout B.C.
• Since 2018, approximately $190 million has been invested in the FCFS program
• More than 300 communities have received funding, including 158 First Nations and 155 local governments

__________

Communities throughout British Columbia will have another opportunity to strengthen their wildfire resilience through the 2027 intake of the FireSmart Community Funding and Supports (FCFS) program.

“British Columbia has just faced another tough wildfire season,” said Ravi Parmar, Minister of Forests. “This wildfire season reinforced what we know to be true: FireSmart works. We’re beginning the work now to help communities prepare for the 2027 wildfire season by engaging in active forest management, by building community resilience and by reducing the threat of wildfire.”

The FCFS program provides funding to local governments and First Nations to increase community resiliency by supporting the development and implementation of local wildfire-risk-reduction projects. The program is delivered by the First Nations’ Emergency Services Society and the Union of B.C. Municipalities, in partnership with the Ministry of Forests.

“It’s well established that First Nations communities are disproportionately impacted by wildfire,” said Francyne Joe, executive director, First Nations’ Emergency Services Society. “FireSmart funding gives communities the tools to build their own capacity and take action before a fire starts, in ways that fit their needs and priorities. The strong response we’ve seen to this intake shows how committed First Nations are to building real wildfire resilience.” 

Focusing on core FireSmart activities and projects

For the 2027 intake, the Province is investing $15 million to support community initiatives. FCFS funding supports a range of activities that help communities reduce wildfire risk, including:

• FireSmart education and training
• home and critical-infrastructure assessments
• rebates and mitigation projects
• community wildfire-resiliency planning
• positions that build capacity and support FireSmart initiatives

FireSmart is a critical component of B.C.’s broader approach to wildfire-risk reduction, which includes community FireSmart initiatives, wildfire-resiliency planning and landscape-level mitigation. 

Another component of wildfire preparation is active land management through the adoption of First Nations stewardship principles, in collaboration with industry. It involves commercial thinning, prescribed burning and other forms of light-touch forestry, which together can reduce the risk and severity of wildfires by removing fuel from the land base.

The Province supports wildfire-risk reduction on Crown land through initiatives, including Crown Land Wildfire Risk Reduction, and work delivered through the Forest Enhancement Society of BC. The expanded mandate of BC Timber Sales also incorporates wildfire-risk-reduction fuel management practices into harvesting operations. 

The Province is supporting wildfire resilience for communities at every level, from the planning process to active land management, to help protect communities from the complex and growing challenge of wildfire.

Quotes:

Patrick Van Minsel, mayor of Peachland –

“FireSmart funding gives Peachland the tools to take action before a wildfire threatens our community. It allows us to support residents with home assessments, rebates and education, while also advancing neighbourhood and municipal fuel-reduction projects. For a community like Peachland, with our unique geography, vegetation and wildland-urban interface, investing in wildfire prevention today is an investment in the safety and resilience of our residents tomorrow.”

Don McCormick, mayor of Kimberley –

“The FireSmart Community Funding and Supports money is a key tool in our efforts to mitigate the risk of wildfire to our community. Twice on evacuation alert, we are keenly aware of the value of this program and are very happy to see this investment continue.”

Quick Facts:

• In 2026, the Province approved $9.3 million for 47 municipalities. 
• FireSmart programs are delivered by 250 FireSmart co-ordinators in communities throughout British Columbia.

Learn More:

• For information about the FCFS Program, visit: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/safety/wildfire-status/prevention/funding-for-wildfire-prevention/crip/fcfs
• For information about the application process, visit: https://www.ubcm.ca/cri/firesmart-community-funding-supports

A backgrounder follows.