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Fire Prevention

Kamloops, Merritt, local First Nations among communities to receive fire prevention grants

Apr 19, 2022 | 2:32 PM

KAMLOOPS — The province is doling out more than $3.5 million dollars to 26 municipalities and First Nations within the Kamloops Fire Centre for wildfire-risk-reduction projects.

The money will come in the form of grants from the Ministry of Forests’ Community Resiliency Investment program.

Minister Katrine Conroy cited a local situation from 2021 as an example of fire prevention work paying off.

“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 Conroy in a news release. “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.”

Communities who benefit:

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 Merritt: $50,596 to assist with education, interagency co-operation, FireSmart activities in residential areas, fuel management

City of Penticton: $150,000 to assist with education, planning, interagency co-operation, FireSmart activities for residential areas

City of Vernon: $150,000 to assist with education, planning, interagency co-operation, emergency planning, FireSmart activities in residential areas

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

Cook’s Ferry Indian Band: $141,975 to assist with education, planning, cross-training, FireSmart activities for residential areas and critical infrastructure

District of Lillooet: $77,440 to assist with education, planning, interagency co-operations, cross-training, FireSmart activities for residential areas

District of Logan Lake: $202,046 to assist with education, planning, interagency co-operation, emergency planning, cross-training, fuel management, FireSmart activities in residential areas

District of Peachland: $150,000 to assist with education, development considerations, interagency co-operation, cross-training, FireSmart activities in residential areas

District of Spallumcheen: $35,000 to assist with education, planning

Lil’wat Nation: $149,750 to assist with education, planning, cross-training, fuel management

Little Shuswap Lake Band: $150,000 to assist with education, planning, fuel management, FireSmart Activities in residential areas

Lower Nicola Indian Band: $44,460 to assist with education, planning, interagency co-operation, cross-training

Lytton First Nation: $118,956 to assist with education, planning, development considerations, interagency co-operation, emergency planning, cross-training, FireSmart activities for residential areas

Okanagan-Similkameen Regional District: $463,946 to assist with interagency co-operation, FireSmart activities for critical infrastructure and residential areas, education, emergency planning, cross-training

Shackan Indian Band: $108,830 to assist with education, planning, development considerations, interagency co-operation, emergency planning, cross-training, FireSmart activities for residential areas

Siska Band: $51,040 to assist with education, planning, cross-training, FireSmart activities in residential areas

Skeetchestn Indian Band: $150,000 to assist with education, planning, interagency co-operation, emergency planning, cross-training, FireSmart activities for residential areas

Skuppah Indian Band: $65,830 to assist with education, planning, development considerations, interagency co-operation, emergency planning, cross-training

Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality: $121,310 to assist with education, interagency co-operation, emergency planning, cross-training, FireSmart activities for residential areas, fuel management

T’it’q’et: $148,760 to assist with education, planning, development considerations, interagency co-operation, emergency planning cross-training, fuel management

Upper Nicola Band: $92,080 to assist with education, planning, interagency co-operation, emergency planning, cross-training, FireSmart activities for residential areas

Xaxli’p First Nation: $14,525 to assist with education, planning, cross-training