Community Wildfire Prevention Grants

The Biosphere Institute will deliver its Community Wildfire Resilience Program through large-scale education, door-to-door outreach, volunteer-led home visits, neighbourhood clean-up events, tool-lending kits, and support for local FireSmart committees. The project closes the gap between municipal mitigation planning and homeowner action by supporting residents to reduce vegetation hazards, strengthen home ignition zones, and build long-term community resilience.

The County will launch a public wildfire risk reduction campaign using roadside FireSmart signage, radio messaging, and mobile educational displays to increase awareness and participation in home assessments and community workshops. The initiative focuses on supporting practical property level actions that lower ignition risk and participation in FireSmart education initiatives.

The District of Squamish will reduce community wildfire risk by delivering interactive public education events, and providing hands on FireSmart mitigation at up to 10 community homes. These properties will serve as local case studies to demonstrate completed Home Ignition Zone actions. Mitigation work will be carried out by the local Youth Climate Corps, who will support property owners with vegetation removal and tailored ignition zone measures informed by FireSmart assessments.

Greenview will deploy a mobile Wildfire Risk Reduction and FireSmart Education Trailer to bring tools, demonstrations, and learning materials directly to rural neighbourhoods and wildfire‑impacted areas. The trailer will increase access to prevention resources for seniors, rural residents, and nearby Indigenous cooperatives and serve as a lasting outreach asset that strengthens FireSmart adoption in the region.

This project is co-hosted by the Mitigating Wildfire Initiative - SFU Centre for Dialogue, First Nations Emergency Services Society’s Cultural Fire Team, and Fire Stewardship team together with the Cheslatta Carrier, Wet’suwet’en, and Gitanyow Nations. They will jointly deliver land-based gatherings on Indigenous Fire Stewardship that include hands-on teaching by Elders and Firekeepers. The project emphasizes the importance of prevention, strengthens long term community resilience, and supports the revitalization of Indigenous led Fire Stewardship.

The RM and Town will deliver FireSmart demonstrations, live wildfire safety displays, community outreach, and a school-based education program, paired with targeted fuel reduction work around neighbourhoods, seniors’ facilities, campgrounds, and critical infrastructure. Together, these actions build a better prepared community and reduce the risk of loss from wildfire.

The RM will commission a comprehensive Wildland–Urban Interface assessment to map hazards, recommend vegetation mitigation priorities and evaluate emergency routes. The project includes FireSmart education, public presentations, and outreach to residents, on wildfire preparedness. The plan will inform long term mitigation investments and strengthen community wide FireSmart awareness across the Rural Municipality. This funding allows the RM of Lac du Bonnet to take proactive action in assessing wildfire risks and improving community safety through FireSmart planning and education.

Teslin Tlingit Council will reduce wildfire risk through vegetation thinning in a community subdivision in the Wildland Urban Interface. The project includes training for citizens in partnership with Yukon First Nations Wildfire, creating local capacity for ongoing mitigation, and public information and education through a community event and outreach via the school and local media.

Thompson will carry out vegetation management work with new tools around the community engaging neighbourhood groups, volunteers, and homeowners to remove dead trees, brush, and ladder fuels along treelines bordering residential areas. The initiative will also provide FireSmart education through public outreach, events and city communications channels.

Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc will reduce wildfire risk on the Kamloops 1 Reserve by removing highly combustible cedar, juniper, and dead/dying vegetation identified through FireSmart assessments, with priority for Elders and vulnerable residents. A community wildfire crew and certified arborist will complete removals on properties with completed home assessments to strengthen Home Ignition Zone preparedness in this high risk wildland urban interface area.

The tri‑community partnership, of the Town of The Pas, Opaskwayak Cree Nation, and the RM of Kelsey, will develop a comprehensive Wildfire Protection Plan that includes detailed risk assessment, fuel analysis, evacuation‑route planning, and improved coordination between local and provincial fire agencies. The plan will identify priority mitigation zones and guide shared investments in vegetation management and FireSmart education to protect homes, infrastructure, and cultural values across all three communities.