UPDATE: City of Vernon to use funding for FireSmart project

Jan 24, 2025 | 1:48 PM

UPDATE: 3:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 27

A local fire mitigation project will go ahead this year thanks to some outside funding.

The City of Vernon was named a recipient of a $200,000 grant from the Union of B.C. Municipalities Community Resiliency lnvestment Program – 2024 FireSmart Community Funding & Supports funding stream.

At the regular meeting Monday, Jan. 27, Vernon City Council accepted the information about the grant and authorized city staff to use the funding for ongoing fire mitigation work in 2025.

The funding will support a fuel management project in Vernon, and while specific locations for that work was not disclosed, Vernon Fire Rescue Chief, David Lind, told council it would be focused in “high priority areas.”

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— Original Story —

The City of Vernon will be getting using some outside support to protect the community from fires.

The Union of B.C. Municipalities (UBCM) approved a grant request from Vernon for $400,000, with up to $200,000 given annually over a two year period, through the 2024 FireSmart Community Funding and Supports funding stream.

A letter from the UBCM, dated Sept 9, 2024, stated the city would receive an initial payment of $100,000, and the remainder would be issued when the approved project had been completed and a final report and financial summary had been submitted.

The project the work was funding involves fuel management practices on First Nations and publicly owned land within municipal boundaries or regional district parks.

A city staff report stated the initial $100,000 had been received and there was an outstanding $100,000, with an additional $200,000 coming in 2025.

Council was recommended to accept the letter and funds from the UBCM, and authorize the expenditure of the 2025 funding for the FireSmart work.

The matter will be brought forward for discussion at the regular meeting Monday, Jan. 27.

by Liam Verster

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