Cities get more cash to cope with wildfires
Premier visits Kelowna to announce province will almost double Community Emergency Preparedness Fund
In Kelowna on Friday, Premier John Horgan spoke of the “stigma of successive fire seasons.”
He was referring, of course, to the summers of 2017 and 2018, when a record number of wildfires scorched two million hectares, $1.2 billion was spent on firefighting and smoke clogged the skies, driving away tourists and hurting the economy.
“Basically, we have to re-establish the B.C. brand for tourism,” said Horgan after a news conference at Kelowna Fire Hall No. 1 on Enterprise Way.
“It’s hard to rebuild, but we’re doing a lot of proactive work to prevent wildfires and working with Tourism B.C. and Destination B.C. to bring tourists back.”
However, 2019 is already shaping up to be a drought year, which doesn’t bode well for tinder-dry forests avoiding fire.
Horgan was officially in town to announce the province is providing a further $31 million for the Community Emergency Preparedness Fund. The extra money brings total program funding to $69.5 million.
Local governments and First Nations communities can apply for a cut of the cash through the Union of B.C. Municipalities.
Money could be used to upgrade forest service roads as alternative exit routes in case of fire, to clear fuel from the forest floor, widen interface areas so homes aren’t as close to trees and brush, and buy additional equipment and training for regular and volunteer firefighters.
Horgan also announced an additional $19 million for 40 risk-reduction projects throughout the province.
“It’s all about giving communities the tools they need,” said Horgan.
Earlier in the day, Horgan met with Kelowna Mayor Colin Basran, Vernon Mayor Victor Cumming, West Kelowna Mayor Gord Milsom and First Nation leaders to talk about emergency preparedness.
Those communities and others are now welcome to apply for funding.
Horgan decided to make the announcements in Kelowna because the city was affected by one of the worst wildfires to impact an urban area in the summer of 2003.
“After that fire, it was recommended that fuel be cleared from forest floors,” he said.
“It wasn’t really done. The horrific 2017 and 2018 fire seasons wouldn’t have been as bad if we cleaned up after the 2003 fire season.”