The Prince George Fire Centre is receiving more than $1.2 million in grants from the province which will be distributed to 13 local governments and First Nations to support wildfire risk reduction initiatives and help keep communities safe.
These Community Resiliency Investment (CRI) grants are part of a total of more than $15 million provided to 118 recipients throughout B.C., following the latest application intake in the program's FireSmart Community Funding and Supports category.
"Mitigating wildfire threats is crucial to help safeguard people, homes and businesses throughout the province," said Katrine Conroy, Minister of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development.
"Since the Community Resiliency Investment program was established in 2018, our government has approved 366 grants to local governments and First Nations totaling over $37 million."
Funding provided through CRI's FireSmart Community Funding and Supports category helps Indigenous and non-Indigenous governments reduce wildfire risks around their communities.
The Prince George Fire Centre received $1,207,278 for 13 grants:
- Binche Whut'en First Nation: $30,000 to assist with education, planning
- District of Chetwynd: $35,985 to assist with FireSmart for residential areas, fuel management
- Fort Nelson First Nation: $133,122 to assist with education, planning, emergency planning, fuel management
- Fort St. James District: $48,944 to assist with education, planning, inter-agency co-operation, emergency planning, cross-training, FireSmart for residential areas
- Halfway River First Nation: $122,391 to assist with education, cross-training, FireSmart for residential areas, fuel management
- District of Mackenzie: $24,500 to assist with education, inter-agency co-operation, cross-training, FireSmart for residential areas
- Nadleh Whut'en First Nation: $150,000 to assist with education, planning, development, inter-agency co-operation, emergency planning, FireSmart for residential areas, fuel management
- Nak'azdli Whut'en First Nation: $97,500 to assist with education, fuel management
- Northern Rockies Regional Municipality: $145,500 to assist with education, planning, inter-agency co-operation, cross-training, fuel management
- Peace River Regional District: $150,000 to assist with education, cross-training, FireSmart for residential areas
- Takla Lake First Nation: $77,271 to assist with education, planning, cross-training, FireSmart for residential areas
- Tsay Keh Dene Nations: $150,000 to assist with education, planning, fuel management
- District of Vanderhoof: $42,064 to assist with education, planning, development, inter-agency co-operation, cross-training, FireSmart for residential areas
Applicants facing a lower wildfire risk could apply for up to $50,000 through the FireSmart Community Funding and Supports category, while applicants facing a demonstrated higher wildfire risk could apply for up to $150,000.
They can apply for funding to cover up to 100 per cent of the cost of their wildfire risk reduction projects.
"Nak'azdli Whut'en members are very supportive of the need for fire protection,” said Vale Gainor, occupational health and safety director for Nak'azdli Whut'en First Nation.
“This Community Resiliency Investment grant also creates employment. The community is quite pleased, knowing that the funding has been made available to Nak'azdli Whut'en to ensure a safer place for all.”
The Union of B.C. Municipalities (UBCM) administers the $60-million FireSmart Community Funding and Supports grant program, and it processes grant applications in partnership with the ministry and the First Nations' Emergency Services Society of B.C.
The next application intake opens on June 30, 2021.
