The province is kicking in a total of $190,000 to assist with wildfire education, planning and cross-training in the Cowichan Valley.
Cowichan Tribes will receive the bulk of the funding, almost $150,000, for these purposes and also for inter-agency cooperation, emergency planning and FireSmart demonstrations.
The Stz’uminus First Nation has been earmarked for $25,000 from the funding to assist with planning and cross-training, and the Municipality of North Cowichan will receive $15,000 to assist with wildfire education and FireSmart activities for private land.
“This funding will help inform people about the threat of wildfires, and how they can be prevented,” said Doug Routley, MLA for Nanaimo-North Cowichan.
“People can now take a proactive approach to wildfire risk reduction through education and planning.”
North Cowichan, the Stz’unimus First Nation and Cowichan Tribes are three of almost 90 local governments and First Nations throughout B.C. who are benefiting from almost $9 million in new provincial government grants to support wildfire risk reduction projects through the Community Resiliency Investment program.
The CRI program helps reduce wildfire risks and impacts in B.C. communities by providing funding and support to complete FireSmart initiatives and fuel management activities.
The program is administered by the Union of BC Municipalities.