Prince George Fire Centre receives $395k in wildfire reduction grants

As we all hold our breath, the Province is doing whatever it can to be proactive ahead of this year’s wildfire season.

As part of its ongoing commitment to reduce wildfire threats, the provincial government is providing more than $395,000 in community resiliency investment grants in order to support projects in the Prince George Fire Centre.

“Community resiliency investment funding will help Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities increase their resiliency to wildfire threats,” said Doug Donaldson, Minister of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development. “The program is designed to support projects at the local level to help keep British Columbians safe.”

This funding is just a piece of an investment of $6 million in community resiliency investment grants provided to 95 municipalities, regional districts, as well as First Nations throughout the province.

The recipients of the grant in the Prince George Fire Centre include:

• Mackenzie: $181,450 to assist with fuel and vegetation management, and FireSmart activities on private land
• Fort Nelson First Nation: $100,000 to assist with education, fuel and vegetation management, and FireSmart activities on private land
• Kwadacha Nation: $98,665 to assist with development, and fuel and vegetation management
• Tsay Keh Dene Nation: $15,660 to assist with education and planning

A key component of the program is that it allows communities to apply for funding in order to cover 100 per cent of a wildfire risk reduction project. Eligible applicants facing a lower wildfire risk can apply for up to $25,000, while applicants who are facing a demonstrated higher wildfire risk can apply for up to $100,000.