The provincial government has approved $153,000 for the Regional District of Nanaimo’s FireSmart initiatives.
The province’s community resiliency investment program grant, according to a news release, will enable the RDN to continue its FireSmart initiatives that focus on education, interagency co-operation, cross-training and vegetation management.
The funding covers programs such as the yard waste bin and chipper days, public education and employee professional development. A temporary regional FireSmart coordinator will be hired to manage the RDN FireSmart program and work with local fire departments on education including FireSmart Community Preparedness Day, home and neighbourhood assessments, workshops and more.
The grant will also fund fuel-management prescriptions for five parks based on their proximity to residential properties, wildfire risk or historic fire activities within their boundaries: Descanso Bay Regional Park and Cox Community Park on Gabriola Island, Moorecroft Regional Park in Nanoose Bay, Kipp Road Community Park in South Wellington and Malcolm Road Community Park in Whiskey Creek.
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For more information on FireSmart programs, visit http://rdn.bc.ca/firesmart and for information on fire services in the RDN, visit http://rdn.bc.ca/fire-services.
— NEWS Staff