The province of British Columbia has approved $153,387 in funding for the Regional District of Nanaimo’s FireSmart Co-ordination and Prescriptions project.
The Community Resiliency Investment program grant enables the RDN to continue its FireSmart initiatives that focus on education, interagency co-operation, cross-training and vegetation management.
The funding covers programs such as the yard waste bin and chipper days, public education, employee professional development. A temporary Regional FireSmart Co-ordinator will be hired, who will manage the RDN FireSmart program and work with local fire departments to implement FireSmart education including FireSmart Community Preparedness Day, Home and Neighbourhood assessments, Neighbourhood Champion workshops and the Neighbourhood Recognition program.
The grant will also fund fuels management prescriptions for five parks based on their proximity to residential properties, wildfire risk or historic fire activities within their boundaries: Descanso Bay Regional Park (Electoral Area B); Cox Community Park (Electoral Area B); Moorecroft Regional Park (Electoral Area E); Kipp Road Community Park (Electoral Area A); and Malcolm Road Community Park (Electoral Area F).
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For more information on FireSmart programs, visit rdn.bc.ca/firesmart and for information on fire services in the RDN, visit rdn.bc.ca/fire-services.
— NEWS Staff