Kootenay communities receive provincial fire department grants

Members of the South Country Fire Departments responded to a structure fire involving a Park Model RV at a private campground in the Tie Lake Area Friday afternoon. (Supplied by the RDEK)

The B.C. government is including nine Kootenay-based fire departments in its latest round of funding for training and equipment.

B.C. officials say the Community Emergency Preparedness Fund (CEPF) is providing grants to over 130 projects, benefiting more than 230 volunteer and composite fire departments.

“During an emergency, people rely on volunteer firefighters and community fire crews to keep their loved ones and homes safe,” said Kelly Greene, Minister of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness.

“By providing funding for equipment and training, we’re strengthening local firefighting capabilities so that people in rural and remote communities who depend on volunteer or partial volunteer fire departments are safer and better protected.”

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The B.C. government is granting over $9 million from the CEPF to communities across the province, with over $1.17 million coming to the Kootenays.

“This funding will help build the capacity of volunteer and composite fire departments to prepare and respond to emergencies through the purchase of new or replacement equipment and the expansion of firefighter training. Composite fire departments are those that have a mix of paid staff and volunteers,” said the B.C. government.

Projects in the Kootenays include the following:

  • Central Kootenay Regional District – $503,802
    • Equipment and training
  • Regional District of East Kootenay – $308,141
    • RDEK Rural Fire Services: Equipment, training and personal protective equipment.
  • Elkford – $40,000
    • Equipment modernization
  •  Fernie – $40,000
    • Fire training and equipment replacement
  • Invermere – $40,000
    • Firefighter survival training and equipment
  • Kootenay-Boundary Regional District – $134,955
    • Fire Department Grant: Equipment, training and live fire training facility upgrade
  • Nelson – $39,864
    • Personal protective equipment and Fire Officer II training
  • Radium Hot Springs – $28,007
    • Wildland personal protective equipment
  • Yaq?it ?a·knuq?i ‘it (Tobacco Plains) – $40,000
    • Fire department equipment and training

“Volunteer and composite fire departments are a cornerstone of our emergency response system, especially in rural and remote communities where they are often the first line of defence,” said Garry Begg, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General.

“This funding will help ensure these dedicated first responders have the tools and training they need to keep people safe. By investing in the capabilities of our local fire departments, we are helping protect communities across the province.”

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