New training and equipment are coming to some area fire departments thanks to provincial funding.
Armstrong, BX-Swan Lake, Lake Country, Lumby, Silver Star and North Westside are among more than 200 B.C. departments benefiting.
A large chunk is for the three departments in the Regional District of North Okanagan. BX-Swan Lake, Lumby and Silver Star will split $67,000 for 2023 equipment and training.
North Westside will get a portion of $115,475.60 for fire-rescue hose replacement. Wilson鈥檚 Landing is getting live fire-training prop upgrade, while Joe Rich can purchase and upgrade self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) and Ellison gets fire-extinguisher training equipment.
Armstrong is able to replace self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) bottles with $30,000 in funds.
鈥淔irefighters play such an important role in our communities, and the people who live here know that. We all recognize the tremendous work they do to keep us safe in some of the scariest moments of our lives and I have tremendous gratitude for our firefighters,鈥� said Harwinder Sandhu, MLA for Vernon-Monashee.
Wildland urban interface personal protective equipment is being purchased with $30,000 for Lake Country.
Oliver is enhancing fire services with $30,000 for SCBA investments.
Firefighter personal protective clothing will be purchased in Peachland with $30,000.
Summerland is getting a portable radio upgrade with $29,925.
Princeton received a $30,000 2023 fire department grant.
Salmon Arm receives a $29,250.26 equipment and training grant and Sicamous received $30,000 in 2023. Funding of $30,000 will purchase an air compressor to fill SCBA cylinders in Chase.
鈥淢any people living in smaller or remote B.C. communities are served by hard-working volunteer or partly volunteer fire departments. These departments don鈥檛 have the same resources found in larger communities,鈥� said George Heyman, acting Minister of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness, and Minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy. 鈥淲e鈥檙e supporting these fire departments with funding for equipment and training to ensure people are safer and better protected by enhanced local firefighting capability that meets local needs.鈥�
Through the Community Emergency Preparedness Fund (CEPF), the province is providing more than $6.2 million for 122 local projects, benefiting more than 200 volunteer and composite fire departments. Composite fire departments are those that have a mix of staff and volunteers. Most communities in B.C. rely on volunteer firefighters to protect people, homes and businesses. These local projects will help ensure volunteer firefighters have the resources and training they need to keep their communities safe from fire.
鈥淜eeping people in our communities safe is a top priority and supporting our volunteer fire departments is key,鈥� said Mike Farnworth, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General. 鈥淭he funding through the Community Emergency Preparedness Fund shows our commitment to helping local crews in smaller communities. We鈥檙e investing in training, equipment and mental-health support to improve firefighting and care for our front-line workers. This effort strengthens our push to build strong, resilient communities across British Columbia.鈥�
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