FireSmart Proposal to MP Scott Anderson

Hi Scott

Any help with advocacy to the Provincial Govt. would be much appreciated. It is possible to save our homes, but we actually have to take action to make that happen and FireSmart is the solution. It just needs to be applied. 

The 2026 wildfire season has once again demonstrated that British Columbia remains at significant risk from catastrophic wildfires.

Within a 24-hour period following a single lightning storm, two wildfires occurred in the Central Okanagan:

● A wildfire near the La Casa subdivision that grew to approximately 5.5 hectares.

● A second lightning-caused fire near Bear Creek Road

Fortunately, both fires were contained quickly. However, they serve as an important reminder that wildfire prevention cannot be treated as a seasonal or discretionary expense.

At the same time that wildfire risk remains high, funding available to local governments for FireSmart activities has been reduced and/or restructured. These changes have affected the Regional District of Central Okanagan’s ability to maintain prevention programs, public education, and staffing.

Wildfire suppression will always be necessary. However, prevention is significantly less expensive than emergency response and recovery. Stable, predictable FireSmart funding is one of the Province’s most cost-effective investments.

Background

For many years, British Columbia has invested in FireSmart programming to help communities reduce wildfire risk before disasters occur.

Through funding administered by the Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM), local governments have been able to:

● employ FireSmart coordinators;

● educate residents about wildfire risk;

● complete neighbourhood risk assessments;

● encourage homeowners to reduce hazardous vegetation around homes;

● support community fuel management projects; and

● improve overall community resilience.

These programs have become an essential component of wildfire preparedness across British Columbia.

The Role of UBCM

The Union of BC Municipalities serves as the Province’s delivery partner for many local government grant programs, including FireSmart funding.

UBCM distributes provincial funding through application-based programs that allow regional districts and municipalities to implement local wildfire prevention initiatives.

Because UBCM works directly with local governments across British Columbia, it has a unique understanding of how funding decisions affect communities on the ground. Their experience and recommendations should form an important part of any provincial review of FireSmart funding.

Local Impacts in the Central Okanagan

Changes to available FireSmart funding are beginning to affect local wildfire prevention efforts.

Examples include:

● the loss of dedicated FireSmart coordination capacity;

● reduced ability to provide homeowner education and outreach;

● fewer resources available to encourage private property fuel reduction;

● uncertainty surrounding long-term planning; and

● increasing reliance on short-term or competitive funding opportunities.

These changes occur despite continuing wildfire threats throughout the region.

The Central Okanagan contains extensive wildland-urban interface areas where residential neighborhoods border forested lands. Continued investment in prevention is critical to protecting lives, homes, infrastructure and local economies.

Why Prevention Matters

Every major wildfire reinforces the same lesson:

The least expensive wildfire is the one that never becomes a major wildfire.

FireSmart programs reduce ignition risk, slow wildfire spread, improve firefighter access, and increase the likelihood that homes survive when wildfire occurs.

Investments made before wildfire seasons save substantially more in suppression costs, disaster recovery, insurance claims, infrastructure replacement and economic disruption.

Stable prevention funding should therefore be viewed as an investment rather than an expense.

Recommendations

It is recommended that the Province:

1. Restore stable, multi-year FireSmart funding for local governments.

2. Ensure funding is predictable so regional districts can retain qualified FireSmart staff.

3. Reinstate or expand funding that assists property owners with wildfire risk reduction.

4. Continue working with UBCM and local governments to improve program delivery based on operational experience.

5. Recognize wildfire prevention as a permanent public safety program rather than one dependent upon intermittent grant funding.

Conclusion

British Columbia continues to experience longer wildfire seasons, increasingly volatile fire behavior and growing costs associated with emergency response. The recent wildfire starts near the La Casa subdivision in the North Westside and Glenrosa illustrate that wildfire risk remains immediate, even early in the fire season. Reducing FireSmart funding at a time of increasing wildfire risk undermines years of progress made by local governments and community partners. This is an opportunity to strengthen—not weaken—British Columbia’s wildfire prevention strategy.

Your advocacy on behalf of the Central Okanagan and other rural communities across British Columbia is greatly appreciated. A renewed provincial commitment to stable FireSmart funding will help communities remain better prepared while reducing future wildfire suppression costs and protecting public safety.

Wayne Carson

Central Okanagan West - Director

RDCO