By Sebastian Kanally, Times Chronicle

The Regional District of the Okanagan-Similkameen (RDOS) board agreed on July 4 to submit an application for up to $650,000 to the Community Resiliency Investment (CRI) program. 

The CRI program is a Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) initiative that provides funding to local governments to increase community resilience by pursuing community-based FireSmart planning and activities that reduce the community’s risk from wildfire. 

This year’s application includes $50,000 for FireSmart activities in each of the nine electoral areas equaling $450,000 total, and an additional $200,000 for the overall RDOS, resulting in a $650,000 ask. 

If successful, these funds would go toward addressing the recommendations outlined in the 2020 RDOS Community Wildfire Protection Plan and would continue the 2023 program objectives. 

These program objectives are: 

  • Education – organize, implement, and/or update public meetings, signage, social media, RDOS website and/or newsletters, community site visits, and community education.
  • Inter-agency Cooperation – participate in multi-agency wildfire and Community FireSmart Resiliency Committee planning tables. 
  • The Home Partners Program (HPP) which conducts wildfire mitigation home assessments. 
  • FireSmart training – funding towards local FireSmart representative training.
  • Create FireSmart neighbourhood assessments – develop FireSmart neighbourhood plans.
  • FireSmart residential rebate initiative – for homeowners that complete eligible FireSmart activities.
  • Off-site vegetation debris disposal – chipping and fuel removal for residential property homeowners who have undertaken vegetation management.

During the board of director’s discussion, it was also noted that this grant money does cover wildfire mitigation for RDOS-owned property such as parks, and Crown Land surrounding RDOS communities. 

The grant money does not cover RDOS expenses for wildfire mitigation when it comes to Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (MoTI) land. 

The RDOS plans for these tasks to be delivered by one full-time RDOS FireSmart coordinator, one full-time wildfire mitigation specialist – up to a 12-month contract, and one full-time wildfire mitigation specialist – up to a four-month contract.  

As for some specific areas, Area “A”, “E”, “I” tasks will be delivered and managed by the respective RDOS fire departments with the support of the RDOS FireSmart program. The RDOS report notes that the application may include more RDOS fire departments onboarding. 

The RDOS has been successful in the past with the CRI program. In 2021, the RDOS was awarded $595,000 through two grants under the CRI program: the FireSmart Community Funding & Supports stream and the FireSmart Economic Recovery Fund. These grants provided full funding for a FireSmart coordinator. 

The FireSmart coordinator led FireSmart events such as home ignition zone assessments, vegetation removal events, neighbourhood assessments, training for local FireSmart representatives, and assistance with the FireSmart committees. 

In 2022, the RDOS was successful in receiving $614,000 through only the FireSmart Community Funding & Supports stream where 2021 program initiatives were continued with the addition of a Home Partners Program (HPP) and a Home Owner Rebate program. 

The 2023 grant similarly funded one full-time and one temporary wildfire mitigation specialist and a FireSmart coordinator. 

During the 2023 year, these positions supported over 305 completed HPP assessments and supported over 40 FireSmart events along with other steps in supporting FireSmart communities.