According to a press release issued this week by ICMIF member The Co-operators, Canadians can now apply for funding to support local Wildfire Community Preparedness Day activities, and join municipalities from coast to coast in a national effort to reduce wildfire risk to local communities.
Wildfire Community Preparedness Day is an annual, national programme, launched by FireSmart Canada in collaboration with The Co-operators, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and the Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction (ICLR). Individuals, fire departments, organizations, community groups and municipalities have been invited to submit applications to receive CAD 500 for projects to help protect their communities from wildfire.
In 2019, a total of CAD 60,500 was awarded to applicants across Canada; in 2020, 150 groups or communities will receive CAD 500 toward wildfire prevention and preparedness efforts.
Since 2014, The Co-operators has partnered with the NFPA and FireSmart Canada to drive wildfire resiliency efforts and advocacy across Canada.
“As wildfire seasons become longer and more severe, it is important that Canadians are aware of the actions they can take to help mitigate their risk,” says Maya Milardovic, AVP of Government Relations at The Co-operators. “Through this funding, we are empowering communities to come together to take proactive steps to make their communities safer and more resilient.”
“It is encouraging to see people across the country getting together to make their homes and communities safer,” said Ray Ault, executive director of FireSmart Canada. “Managing wildfire risk is a shared responsibility and today the spotlight is on individual property owners and communities. Wildfire Community Preparedness Day projects show that simple things like clearing brush and moving combustible material away from your home can make a real difference in protecting your home and property.”
Wildfire Community Preparedness Day events help people understand the importance of protecting their properties by creating non-combustible zones around their homes. Research shows that embers from wildfires can ignite vegetation or material around homes, leading to structure fires and devastating property loss. Simple tasks such as clearing needles and other debris from rain gutters can help prevent a potential tragedy.
The application period is open until January 2020. Successful applicants can use funding from May to October 2020 to host Wildfire Community Preparedness Day events that raise awareness of wildfire risk, help protect homes, and encourage neighbourhoods to improve wildfire resiliency through FireSmart activities, including proper maintenance and clearing of dead or combustible vegetation, and wildfire-resilient landscaping.
To learn more about Wildfire Community Preparedness Day, visit www.firesmartcanada.ca/wildfire-community-preparedness-day-2020
