The City of Fernie is joining the RDEK in applying for an emergency operations centre grant for $360,000.
Fernie is one of eight communities partnering with the RDEK.
The RDEK is planning on using the grant funding for an industrial generator to provide backup power to critical infrastructure, mobile communications upgrades, emergency management training and technology upgrades at the regional emergency operations centre.
The RDEK will also be looking at purchasing a drone.
Fernie Deputy fire chief Scott Robinson says that will help assist crews in hard to reach areas.
“Quite often emergencies and disasters aren’t accessible,” he said.
“For example it’s not easy to run a river if it’s flooding, but we could send a drone up and down. The same goes for wildfires that are often in the back country and not easy to get to.”
If successful the RDEK will be responsible for the funds and the purchasing of items.
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