The province will provide funding for 42 local governments and First Nations to reduce wildfire across BC.
$4.3 million was announced on Wednesday, June 30th, to go towards wildfire risk reduction initiatives in 42 local communities.
Eligible applicants who have a lower wildfire risk can apply for up to $50,000, while those demonstrating a higher wildfire risk can apply for up to $150,000.
Funding could cover up to 100% of the cost of a community’s wildfire risk reduction projects.
The next application intake opens on June 30th.
The additional funding was granted as part of a $15 million Community Resiliency Investment (CRI) which helps Indigenous and non-Indigenous governments combat wildfire risks around their communities in nine areas:
- Education
- vegetation management
- community planning
- development considerations
- inter-agency co-operation
- FireSmart training and cross-training
- emergency management planning
- FireSmart projects for critical infrastructure
- FireSmart activities for residential areas
The Union of B.C. Municipalities, the Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development, and the First Nations’ Emergency Services Society of BC processes grant applications which administer the $60-million FireSmart Community Funding and Supports grant program.
More information about the application process will be available on the UBCM website.
