First recipients announced for Community Wildfire Prevention and Mitigation Program
The initial round of funding under the Community Wildfire Prevention and Mitigation Program is expected to help communities across the province reduce the risk of wildfire and better protect homes, critical infrastructure, and the environment around them.
An investment of approximately $2.26 million will help 58 communities develop community wildfire resiliency plans and community-based wildfire prevention/mitigation projects. Applications for the first round of funding were submitted to the newly formed Newfoundland and Labrador FireSmart Committee. A technical sub-committee reviewed the applications.
Recommendations for funding were based on whether the proposed activity qualified for funding under the parameters of the program, the quality of the application, and the value of the proposed activity to reduce the risk of wildfire for that area/community.
The Newfoundland and Labrador Community Wildfire Prevention and Mitigation Program is a community approach to wildfire resilience that helps identify and reduce wildfire risks. The program supports local risk assessments, fuel management planning, and mitigation activities. It also strengthens community-level emergency preparedness by providing guidance to property owners to help them protect their homes from wildfires.
The program is supported by a $12.8-million joint investment from the federal and provincial governments under Natural Resources Canada’s Resilient Communities through FireSmart (RCF) Program.
“With 133 applications received for the first step of this program, we are encouraged by the strong response and will issue further calls for proposals in the months and years ahead,” says Pleaman Forsey,
Minister of Forestry, Agriculture and Lands. “Unsuccessful applicants in this first round are strongly encouraged to re-apply in the next call for proposals. Thank you to everyone who applied, and we look forward to offering the next round of funding under this program very soon.”