Ten volunteer and composite fire departments in the north are receiving their share of a 6.3 million dollar funding announcement from the provincial government.
The money is for equipment and training to help bolster firefighting response and make their communities safer.
“Many people across the province live in communities with fire services delivered by volunteer or part-volunteer fire departments, and they depend on those fire crews to keep them and their families safe when fires happen,” said Bowinn Ma, Minister of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness.
“These fire crews have different challenges than most fire departments, and this funding will go a long way by supporting them to purchase new or replacement equipment and deliver training to their volunteers and staff.”
Funding through the Community Emergency Preparedness Fund (CEPF) will be distributed to 114 local governments, First Nations, and volunteer and composite fire departments.
Composite fire departments have a mix of paid staff and unpaid volunteers.
“Volunteer and composite fire departments are vital public safety partners in B.C.’s local and First Nations communities,” said Brian Godlonton, B.C.’s fire commissioner.
“This funding for new equipment and training will support dedicated fire crews as they continue their important work in keeping communities safe.”
The list of northern recipients is as follows:
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- Bulkley-Nechako Regional District – Training and equipment
Approved funding: $99,582 - Fort St. James – Equipment and PPE acquisition
Approved funding: $29,610 - Fraser Lake – Volunteer Fire Rescue equipment upgrade
Approved funding: $30,000 - Fraser-Fort George Regional District – VFD Emergency Response Equipment Improvement Project
Approved funding: $390,000 - Granisle – Training and equipment upgrade
Approved funding: $30,000 - Houston – Professional development and equipment
Approved funding: $26,248.73 - New Hazelton – Gear upgrades
Approved funding: $25,000 - Smithers – Fire training and equipment project
Approved funding: $29,971.54 - Telkwa – Replacement turn-out gear
Approved funding: $30,000 - Vanderhoof – Improved communications systems – portable radios
Approved funding: $29,998
