A total of $5 million in funding has been announced for volunteer and composite fire departments across British Columbia.
The announcement was made by the ministry of public safety and solicitor general on Friday, and the funds are for equipment and training through B.C.’s Community Emergency Preparedness Fund (CEPF).
The maximum amount of funding every applicant can receive is $25,000, however in many cases regional districts submitted proposals involving many societies and fire departments. Hence in some cases hundreds of thousands of dollars are being given to regional districts to be further distributed, stated a March. 6 release from the ministry.
For this funding stream, a total of 102 proposals have been approved to help eligible applicants in local government and First Nation communities build resiliency with new or replacement equipment and firefighter training.
Below are a few of the volunteer and composite fire department funding recipients.
- The Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako will receive $23,626.65
- Burns Lake will receive $25,000
- Fort Fraser Volunteer Fire Department will receive $24,205.31
- Fraser Lake will receive $25,000
- Regional District of Fraser-Fort George will receive $325,000
- Houston will receive $12,215.84
- Tahltan Nation will receive $25,000
- Tl’azt’en Nation will receive $20,171
- Williams Lake will receive $25,000
The funding is distributed through the Union of BC Municipalities.
“Volunteer and composite fire departments are vital public safety partners in B.C.’s local and First Nations communities,” said Mike Farnworth, minister of public safety and solicitor general.
“This funding for new equipment and training will support dedicated fire crews at more than 100 of these fire departments as they continue their work to keep communities safe,” Farnworth added.
READ MORE: New regional training centre for firefighters in Fraser Lake
Aman Parhar
Editor, Vanderhoof Omineca Express
aman.parhar@ominecaexpress.com
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