MLA Jennifer Rice welcomes grants to prepare for wildfire risks in the North Coast

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PRINCE RUPERT- New Democrat MLA for North Coast Jennifer Rice is welcoming over $185,000 in grants to assist North Coast communities with wildfire planning and education.

“People in rural communities know the importance of being prepared for fire season,” said MLA Rice. “This funding will help people in our communities help each other through emergency planning, FireSmart programming, and education.”

Grants going to North Coast communities include:

  • North Coast Regional District: $24,852.84 to assist with planning
  • District of Kitimat: $24,020 to assist with education
  • City of Terrace: $136,704 to assist with education, inter-agency cooperation, cross-training, FireSmart demonstration projects, FireSmart activities for private land, and fuel management

Kitimat, Terrace, and the North Coast Regional District 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