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B.C. forestry minister announces 2016 FireSmart Grant Program


September 21, 2015   by Canadian Underwriter


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Steve Thomson, British Columbia’s Minister of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations, announced on Friday that his ministry is working with the Union of British Columbia Municipalities to introduce the 2016 FireSmart Grant Program.

Under the program, fifty grants of up to $10,000 each will be made available to local governments and First Nations to help communities identify and reduce wildfire risks on private land

Under the program, fifty grants of up to $10,000 each will be made available to local governments and First Nations to help communities identify and reduce wildfire risks on private land, Thomson said in a statement. Thomson also noted that B.C. has provided over $67 million to help local governments and First Nations reduce wildfire risks around their communities since introducing the Strategic Wildfire Prevention Initiative in 2004. “To date, 286 communities have completed community wildfire protection plans and the fuel build-up on over 78,000 hectares of land has been reduced,” he added.

Related: B.C. government to introduce legislative amendments related to drone operations near wildfires

Sept. 20 to 26 marks National Forest Week, the theme of which is “Wildland Fire – You can make a difference.” The statement noted that of the 1,805 wildfires this summer, 545 were caused by humans. “Because of the high percentage of human-caused fires that persists year after year, I asked Parliamentary Secretary Mike Morris to review the fines and penalties in place under the Wildfire Act for human-caused fires – and human interference in firefighting,” Thomson said.

In addition, twice in August, firefighting operations were shut down because of drones, or unmanned aerial vehicles, flying in restricted airspace. “Drones put lives and public safety at risk,” Thomson said in the statement. “In addition to asking Transport Canada to strengthen its regulations, we’re looking to see how we can strengthen the Wildfire Act.”

Related: “Keep the drones at home,” B.C. government urges as wildfires continue to burn

Background information from the ministry noted that wildland forest fires are capable of spreading at an “astonishing rate.” Crowning forest fires often spread at up to 5.5 kilometres per hour, with spotting as far as two kilometres ahead. Wind-blown grass fires can spread at speeds up to 8.5 kilometres per hour.

Related: One of the worst wildland/urban interface fire disasters in modern Canadian history could be repeated, study suggests

In B.C., an average of 48% of all wildfires are caused by human activity, with about 52% of B.C. caused by lightning strikes. Over the last 10 years, on average, over 2,500 wildfires were started in B.C. each year, consuming over 25,000 hectares of forested land annually.

The forestry sector is particularly important for the province. In 2014, forestry provided 60,700 direct jobs and generated $12.4 billion in exports – accounting for 35% of all B.C. goods exported. [click image below to enlarge]

Sept. 20 to 26 marks National Forest Week, the theme of which is “Wildland Fire – You can make a difference.”


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