Province provides over $335k to PRRD to reduce wildfire risks

PRINCE GEORGE, B.C. – The province has doled out $335,300 to the Peace River Regional District to support wildfire-risk-reduction initiatives.

Doig River First Nation received $126,750 and West Moberly First Nations and the District of Mackenzie each received $150,000

According to a release, funding will assist with education, development considerations, emergency planning, cross-training, fuel management, interagency cooperation, and FireSmart activities.

The funding is provided through the Community Resiliency Investment grant program, which aims to reduce wildfire risks and impacts.

“Last year’s devastating fire season highlighted the importance of implementing FireSmart activities around B.C. communities and, as we saw in Logan Lake, it can make a big difference,” said Katrine Conroy, Minister of Forests.

“In Budget 2022, our government committed $90 million in community grants to complete FireSmart initiatives and fuel-management activities that will help safeguard homes and communities from wildfire threats.”

The province says FireSmart Community Funding and Supports category of the CRI program helps fund FireSmart-related initiatives, including priority fuel-management projects on provincial Crown land and private land.

First Nations and local governments can use the money to complete wildfire risk-reduction and prevention activities, including those on public, reserve and private land.

The Union of B.C. Municipalities administers the FireSmart Community Funding and Supports program and processes grant applications in partnership with the Ministry of Forests and the First Nations’ Emergency Services Society of British Columbia.