Funding for First Nation and Volunteer/Composite Fire Departments announced by the Province

Volunteer Fire Departments Like that of the District of Port Edward, as well
as Departments located in First Nation Communities can now access
funding for improvements in training and equipment

The Province of British Columbia is providing for a five million dollar boost towards fire fighting efforts in communities across British Columbia, introducing the Province's Community Emergency Preparedness Fund, which will be distributed through the Union of British Columbia Municipalities.

The $5 million is part of a newly established funding stream by the Province, to help eligible applicants in local government and First Nations communities build resiliency with new or replacement equipment and firefighter training.

Eligible fire departments include local governments, First Nations communities and society-run departments.

The funding program marks a change from previous investments through the Preparedness Fund, which were only open to local governments, the five million dollars in additional funding announced on Friday, is part a larger 36 million dollar investment to improve the province's Emergency Management System.


“What we really want to do is to level the playing field for smaller volunteer and composite fire departments in B.C.’s local and First Nations communities. The smaller a department’s budget, the higher the priority in the allocation of these funds, so we can make sure these funds get to the communities that need them most.” -- Mike Farnworth, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General 

The change also means that all funding streams offered by the Province now include First Nation communities, some details on the programs available can be reviewed here.

For more items of note related to the work of Emergency Responders in the Northwest see our archive page here.


Cross posted from the North Coast Review.