By Don Urquhart, Times Chronicle
Following the lead of other municipalities, like Oliver, Osoyoos is looking to hire a FireSmart Coordinator contingent on being awarded a grant through the the Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM).
The grant is being sought through the UBCM’s Community Resiliency Investment program which is aimed at reducing the risk and impact of wildfire on communities in BC.
The ‘FireSmart Community Funding and Supports Program’ provides funding to local governments to increase community resiliency by undertaking community-based FireSmart planning and activities that reduce the community’s risk from wildfire.
In a report to council, town staff drew information from the UBCM’s “BC Flood and Wildfire Review”, which highlighted the critical need to, “strengthen public understanding of the risks and personal responsibilities associated with living in a fire-dependent ecosystem.”
It was noted that research has confirmed that communities that implement FireSmart principles have a greater chance of enduring a wildfire.
“Post-wildfire findings indicate that observance of FireSmart principles is one of the main reasons why individual homes have survived wildfires in both urban and rural settings,” the staff report read.
The 2025 grant application will request approximately $200,000 and propose a half-time FireSmart Coordinator for Osoyoos.
The Coordinator would work with neighbouring municipalities and the Regional District of Okanagan Similkameen FireSmart Coordinator to deliver educational programs, hold public meetings, produce signage and issue social media posts.
The Osoyoos FireSmart Coordinator would work with the Osoyoos Protective Services to establish a FireSmart program for Osoyoos and update the Town’s Community Wildfire Resilience Plan.
If approved, the grant activities would be completed by June 2027. Responsibility for sustaining the FireSmart program would be shifted to the Protective Services Department at that time.
