BC Announces CA$15 Million for 2027 FireSmart Community Program

On Snday, British Columbia announced that communities across the province will have another opportunity to strengthen wildfire resilience through the 2027 intake of the FireSmart Community Funding and Supports (FCFS) program.

The province is investing CA$15 million (US$10.8 million) in the 2027 intake to support FireSmart education and training, home and critical-infrastructure assessments, rebates and mitigation projects, community wildfire-resiliency planning, and positions that build capacity and support FireSmart initiatives.

The FCFS program provides funding to local governments and First Nations for local wildfire-risk-reduction projects. It is delivered by the First Nations’ Emergency Services Society and the Union of BC Municipalities, in partnership with the Ministry of Forests.

The province said wildfire preparation also includes active land management through First Nations stewardship principles in collaboration with industry. Measures include commercial thinning, prescribed burning, and other forms of light-touch forestry intended to reduce wildfire risk and severity by removing fuel from the land base.

BC Minister of Forests Ravi Parmar said:

“British Columbia has just faced another tough wildfire season. This wildfire season reinforced what we know to be true: FireSmart works. We’re beginning the work now to help communities prepare for the 2027 wildfire season by engaging in active forest management, by building community resilience, and by reducing the threat of wildfire.”