The City of Maple Ridge will apply for a $300,000 grant to prepare to respond to wildfires.
The money would be spent on the Community Wildfire Resiliency Plan, and to hold FireSmart activities. FireSmart is a methodology for managing wildfire risk that is recognized across Canada.
In 2022 the city received $49,000 for its FireSmart program from the province. The UBCM, which administers the Community Resiliency Investment program, will again be asked for a new grant, to a maximum of $300,000.
“Thankfully our risk is considered on the lower side, but the city’s desire is to be proactive and utilize FireSmart BC methodology to manage wildfire risk in our community,” said fire chief Dave Samson.
The FireSmart initiative would see a FireSmart coordinator hired, the Community Resiliency Wildfire Plan would be enhanced, and a Community FireSmart Resiliency Committee of interest holders would be struck. The committee would enable a mechanism for structured involvement with First Nations, said Samson.
“Once we have some of these foundational elements in place, the city can apply for additional funding to support residents, especially vulnerable residents such as seniors, with FireSmart assessments and improvements on private property, as well as expanding the city’s planning and ability to respond to wildfire with a focus on the wildfire urban interface (WUI) areas,” the fire chief added.
Mitigating the increased risk of climate related wildfire is a core element of this work. The funding also allows for enhanced educational materials for residents to undertake their own FireSmart improvements on their own property.
Council approved application for a grant of up to $300,000 recently.