PITT MEADOWS, BC – The City of Pitt Meadows has been awarded nearly $50,000 as part of the FireSmart Community Funding Grant. This grant was provided through the province’s Community Resiliency Investment (CRI) program designed to reduce the risk and impacts of wildfire to communities.
“Funding supports like this are enormously helpful to Pitt Meadows to ensure the safety and well-being of our community, as well as the protection of our natural places,” says Mayor Bill Dingwall. “This grant will go a long way to ensure we work to minimize risks and hazards of wildfires in Pitt Meadows.”
This funding will be used to develop a Wildfire Resiliency Plan including hiring a temporary FireSmart Coordinator to develop and deliver a FireSmart program for the community for the duration of the grant, ending January 31, 2022. This will include implementing a FireSmart workshop within the City’s Neighbourhood Emergency Preparedness Program to educate the community on FireSmart principals as well as attendance at public events once COVID-19 restrictions are lifted.
“Although Pitt Meadows does not typically experience large wildfires, there are a number of forested areas outside of the city centre that pose a risk,” says Barbara Morgan, the City’s Manager of Emergency Programs. “This funding provides us the opportunity to establish a robust wildfire resiliency program built specifically for our community.”
FireSmart community funding and supports are administered through the Union of British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM) to provide funding to local governments and First Nations in BC to increase resiliency by undertaking community-based FireSmart planning and activities that reduce the community’s risk from wildfire. This can include educating the public about FireSmart principals, hosting community events, and other training opportunities.
For more information about the FireSmart program, visit firesmartbc.ca.
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For more information please contact:
Carolyn Baldridge
Manager of Communications & Community Engagement
City of Pitt Meadows
cbaldridge@pittmeadows.ca