Electoral Areas A (Rural Golden) and B (Rural Revelstoke) are receiving a $182,400 grant as part of the Columbia Basin Wildfire Resiliency Initiative to help reduce wildfire risk.
The grant will be used to pilot an expanded FireSmart home assessment and rebate program in Electoral Areas A and B to support wildfire resiliency for vulnerable residents.
Vulnerable residents may face financial, physical, or social barriers that limit their ability to complete FireSmart mitigation activities on their property. This can include seniors, people with disabilities, mobility challenges, or low-income households.
The funding is provided through a partnership between the Province of British Columbia and Columbia Basin Trust.
The program is tailored specifically to the Columbia Basin and is one component of the Province of BC’s Community Resiliency Investment Program. The Ministry of Forests, BC Wildfire Service and Columbia Basin Trust are partners in delivering this support.
“Projects like these help communities stay healthy, act proactively and adapt to the realities of a changing climate,” said Kris Belanger, Senior Manager, Delivery of Benefits, Columbia Basin Trust. “This includes managing fuels, planning how to respond if a wildfire hits, or helping residents understand what they can do to reduce risk around their own properties.”
In Electoral Area A, the grant is partnering with the local Better at Home program to help determine eligibility. Interested Electoral Area A residents can contact the Better at Home program for Golden and Electoral Area A at goldenbetterathome@gmail.com
Residents of Electoral Area B should reach out directly to firesmart@csrd.bc.ca
For more information, visit the CSRD’s FireSmart webpage.
