For the B.C. Lions, wildfire safety and preparedness is a team effort.
The CFL club has announced a new partnership to help champion B.C.’s FireSmart program, amplifying wildfire prevention and preparedness messaging across the province.
The Lions have teamed up with Port Alberni-based aerial firefighting company Coulson Aviation for the campaign, while FireSmart has invested $17,000 to leverage the team’s extensive reach through digital and radio advertising, including live game broadcasts on 730 CKNW.
During the off-season, wildfire resiliency messaging will also be delivered directly to students through B.C. Lions school visits, with the goal of empowering young people to be equipped to protect their own turf.
A Langford child is put through her paces at the Millstream Elementary FireSmart event May 30. (Ben Fenlon/Goldstream Gazette)
Langford’s Millstream Elementary School was chosen as the backdrop for the Lions’ announcement, where the community gathered for the third annual Thetis Heights neighbourhood FireSmart event Saturday, May 30.
Minister of Forests and MLA for Langford-Highlands Ravi Parmar said the event demonstrated what can be achieved when communities work together to reduce wildfire risk.
He noted that a record 2,400 British Columbians have applied to be wildfire firefighters this year, but stressed that everyone has a role to play in keeping communities safe.
While youngsters learned from Langford firefighters how they can get involved, Lions senior vice-president of business George Chayka highlighted the important role B.C.’s youth will play in the future.
“Our youth are the future with regards to protecting our homes, our world,” he said “Helping to deliver this FireSmart messaging is going to help all of us with regards to our firefighter preparedness and being able to fight forest fires.”
In Langford, that work is already paying dividends.
So far this year, 2,156 cubic yards of hazardous vegetation has been removed from parks, green spaces and homes – enough to fill more than 180 dump trucks lined up for over a mile.
Also, across six free yard waste drop-off events for residents, over 900 vehicles dropped off flammable yard waste.
Langford Fire Chief Chris Aubrey said local efforts, combined with support from organizations such as the Lions and Coulson, are helping build momentum across the province.
“FireSmart works so effectively when you have champions,” he said. “This is an incredible team that we’re building throughout the entire province, I’m so grateful that we’ve got such an active program.
“We know climate change is affecting our province, affecting our forests – the steps that we take today are going to build for a safer community in the future.”
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