Province funding wildfire reduction projects

The B.C. government is investing in community-led projects to better protect people in the Thompson-Okanagan region from wildfires.

The B.C. Community Forest Association has partnered with 15 community forests on 48 Crown Land Wildfire Risk Reduction (CLWRR) projects, including 11 within the Kamloops Fire Centre.

The projects are intended to better prepare area communities from the threat of wildfires.

“Managed by local communities and First Nations for the benefit of the entire community, community forests are key partners in our work to reduce wildfire risks across the province,” said Katrine Conroy, Minister of Forests.

“Along with the historic investments in Budget 2022 to transform the BC Wildfire Service into a year-round service and double funding for proactive wildfire prevention, these new projects will help build communities that are safer and more resilient to climate change.”

The partners in the Kamloops Fire Centre and the projects that are either completed or underway through the CLWRR are:

• Monashee Community Forest LLP $667,139 for three prescription development projects and two operational treatments near Lumby
• Lower North Thompson Community Forest Society – $115,096 for a prescription development project near the community of Barrière
• Logan Lake Community Forest Corporation – $493,629 for three prescription development projects and two operational treatments

Included in the Lumby projects are fuel data collection, fuel dispersement, and prescribed burning.

“Climate disasters, like forest fires, pose huge threats to our families, our environment and our economy,” said Vernon-Monashee MLA Harwinder Sandhu.

“That’s why it’s important to take steps to prepare and protect community forests. Not only do these projects create more local jobs, they make our communities more resilient to the effects of climate change.”