Province provides wildfire reduction grants in Kamloops Fire Centre

The B.C. government has announced $3.5 million dollars in grants to 26 local governments and First Nations in the Kamloops Fire Centre.

The funds will be used to support wildfire-risk reduction projects such as reducing fire fuels on Crown and private land.

“People across the Thompson Okanagan experienced a terrible fire season last year, and while some wildfires are natural, we all want to do our part to reduce the danger people face,” said Harwinder Sandhu, MLA for Vernon-Monashee.

“By providing these grants to communities, we’re working to keep people safe and protect the infrastructure we count on.”

• City of Vernon will receive $150,000 to assist with education, planning, interagency co-operation, emergency planning, FireSmart activities in residential areas
• Central Okanagan Regional District: $250,000 to assist with education, planning, interagency co-operation, FireSmart activities for residential areas, cross-training, fuel management
• City of Kamloops: $139,829 to assist with education, planning, interagency co-operation, fuel management
• City of Kelowna: $149,045 to assist with education, FireSmart activities in residential areas, fuel management
• City of West Kelowna: $149,616 to assist with education, planning, interagency co-operation, FireSmart activities for residential areas
• Columbia Shuswap Regional District: $250,000 to assist with education, interagency co-operation, cross-training, FireSmart activities for residential areas, planning

Murray Rankin, Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation, was in Vernon Tuesday for the funding announcement with Sandhu.

In addition to the community grants, he said the province is helping communities prepare for the upcoming fire season with $90-million in community grants for the FireSmart program to help make homes and communities safer from wildfire risks.

Rankin noted that Vernon has already taken the initiative to put some of those programs into action.

“Vernon already has a dedicated FireSmart coordinator, and already there are over five communities that are under what’s called ‘The FireSmart Canada Recognized Neighbours,’ and, of course, the coordinator is seeking more of them,” said Rankin.

“Vernon is working well on fire fuel management responses, projects to deal with that on city land, and Vernon has an active wildfire community preparedness day. They’ve been active in that for over five years.”

Rankin added that the province is learning from the past experiences, saying the degree, severity and frequency of the challenges last year were unprecedented.

“Three of the worst wildfire years in [British Columbia’s] history have occurred over the last five years,” said Rankin.

“The province is learning to do better with communication with Indigenous communities who are somewhat concerned, I think it’s fair to say, about our early response to that.”

Rankin noted that he met with Okanagan Indian Band Chief Byron Louis prior to the announcement to find out how to better collaborate with First Nations in regards to wildfire response.

Rankin stated that the funding for the Wildfire Service and subsequent projects is only a part of the solution, and the province needs to work hand in hand with communities, local governments, First Nations and the federal government to reduce the risk of future devastating wildfires.

Rankin also added that in his talk with Louis, it was requested that a thorough analysis of the White Rock Lake wildfire be done, and he agreed that a review would be beneficial in helping learn how to prevent and mitigate future fires in the area.