Kootenay MLAs welcome grants for wildfire education and preparation

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CASTLEGAR – New Democrat MLAs Katrine Conroy and Michelle Mungall are welcoming nearly $2 million in provincial grants to assist communities in the Southeast Fire Centre in preparing for wildfires.

“This is a great opportunity for rural communities to develop solutions that work for them,” said Conroy, MLA for Kootenay West. “These grants will help people in the Kootenays take a proactive approach to preparing for wildfires.”

“It is important that our Kootenay communities are prepared for future wildfire seasons,” said Mungall, MLA for Nelson-Creston. “This funding will help us do that so that we can ensure our families and neighbours’ safety.”

Communities in the Southeast Fire Centre receiving funding include:

  • ʔaq’am (Ktunaxa Nation): $150,000 to assist with education, planning, and fuel management
  • Regional District of Central Kootenay: $267,000 to assist with education, cross-training, and FireSmart activities.
  • Regional District of East Kootenay: $150,000 to assist with education, inter-agency cooperation, cross-training, and FireSmart activities
  • City of Fernie: $87,000 to assist with education, cross-training, FireSmart demonstration projects and activities
  • City of Greenwood: $56,730 to assist with fuel management
  • District of Invermere: $150,000 to assist with education, planning, cross-training, and FireSmart activities
  • Regional District of Kootenay Boundary: $93,000 to assist with education and cross-training
  • Village of Nakusp: $150,832 to assist with education, development, FireSmart activities, and fuel management
  • City of Nelson: $10,800 to assist with fuel management
  • City of Rossland: $146,750 to assist with education, development, FireSmart activities, and fuel management
  • Shuswap Indian Band: $150,000 to assist with fuel management
  • Silverton: $440,000 to assist with education, development, inter-agency cooperation, emergency planning, cross-training, FireSmart demonstration projects and activities, and fuel management
  • Village of Kaslo: $139,800 to assist with education, planning, inter-agency cooperation, cross-training, FireSmart activities, and fuel management

Communities in the Southeast Fire Centre are some of almost 90 local governments and First Nations throughout BC benefiting from almost $9 million in new provincial government grants to support wildfire risk reduction projects through the Community Resiliency Investment (CRI) program.

The CRI program helps reduce wildfire risks and impacts in BC communities by providing funding and support to complete FireSmart initiatives and fuel management activities. The program is administered by the Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM).

Since launching the CRI program in September 2018, the BC New Democrat government has invested more than $18.6 million to support 209 projects helping local governments and First Nations mitigate wildfire threats around their communities.

Learn More: https://news.gov.bc.ca/21721