The Comox Valley FireSmart™ Collaborative, representing municipalities throughout the Comox Valley and electoral areas, is excited to announce successful grant funding awarded through the Community Resiliency Investment program. The grant is set to run from now until 2027 and is for approximately $1.8 million.

“We’re incredibly happy with this result in being able to provide valuable FireSmart support activities to communities in Courtenay, Comox, Cumberland, K’ómoks First Nation, and the electoral areas in the CVRD,” says Ian Robertson, Committee Chair of the Comox Valley FireSmart Collaborative. “A big thank you to the team who have worked tirelessly to make this grant application a success. The whole community benefits from work like this and we’re excited to begin using these funds for the safety and wellbeing of residents and visitors in the region.”

“This funding is a significant step forward for wildfire resilience in the Comox Valley,” says Will Cole-Hamilton, Chair of the Comox Valley Regional District Board. “With support secured through 2027, we’re able to expand practical, on-the-ground FireSmart initiatives that help residents, neighbourhoods, and local governments reduce risk and strengthen preparedness. This work is the result of strong collaboration across the region, and the benefits will be felt by the entire community.”

The FireSmart Community Funding and Supports program is administered by the Union of BC Municipalities, funded by the Province of BC, and supported by the BC Wildfire Service.

As the year unfolds, the grant funds will support the following activities and initiatives:

• Tree/yard debris chipping events for neighbourhoods identified as high risk.
• Creation of a Demonstration Forest (to show the community what FireSmart properties look like).
• Development Considerations – consider Development Permit Applications (DPA) for assessing wildfire hazard, revised landscaping requirements, and review bylaws to better align them across the Comox Valley.
• Increased capacity to complete Home Ignition Zone Assessments.
• Supporting neighbourhoods to become FireSmart identified through the FireSmart Canada Neighbourhood Recognition Program.
• Reviewing and recommending updates to critical infrastructure.
• Updating the Neighbourhood Emergency Preparedness Program (NEPP) Guide to include FireSmart principles and actions.
• Supporting FireSmart education programs in libraries.
• Support cross-training to ensure emergency responders can provide more lifesaving tips in the community.

To stay up to date on current and future initiatives, please visit www.comoxvalleyrd.ca/firesmart.

The Comox Valley Regional District is a partnership of three electoral areas and three municipalities operating on the unceded traditional territory of the K’ómoks First Nation, the traditional keepers of the land. The members of the regional district work collaboratively on providing sustainable services for the benefit of the diverse urban and rural areas of the Comox Valley.

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Media Contact:

Bruce Green
Regional Rural Fire Chief
250-337-8121

https://www.comoxvalleyrd.ca/connect/news/regional-firesmart-committee-awarded-community-resiliency-grant