COURTENAY – New Democrat MLA Ronna-Rae Leonard says that funding announced this week will help local fire departments to protect more people and structures in the community.

“We’re so fortunate to have many volunteer firefighters in our communities, and they need to know that they’ll have the support they need to best serve their community and continue their important work,” said Ronna-Rae Leonard, MLA for Courtenay-Comox. “Funding for local fire departments, like for cancer mitigation equipment in Comox,  will make sure firefighters are safer and more prepared to do their important work every day.”

The following local fire departments are receiving funding:

• Comox – $30,000 for supplies to support cancer mitigation
• Comox Valley Regional District (regional fire partners: Denman Island, Hornby Island, Fanny Bay, Union Bay, Oyster River, Merville, Mt. Washington) – $208,750 for local fire department operations

Through the Community Emergency Preparedness Fund (CEPF), the provincial government is providing more than $6.2 million for 122 local projects, benefiting more than 200 volunteer and composite fire departments across B.C. Composite fire departments are those that have a mix of staff and volunteers.

Since 2017, more than $17 million has been provided to volunteer and composite fire departments through the CEPF for additional equipment and training.