Staff Report: FireSmart Community Funding Support Application

BACKGROUND

The Community Resiliency Investment (CRI) Program is a suite of funding programs intended to reduce the risk of wildfires and mitigate their impacts on BC Communities. Funding is provided by the Province of BC and is administered by Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM). There are several funding streams available; for the purpose of this report, the funding stream being applied for is “FireSmart Community Funding & Supports.” The UBCM FireSmart funding stream provides funding to local governments and First Nations to increase community resiliency by under-taking community based FireSmart planning and activities that reduce the community’s risk from wildfires.

The Hazard, Risk, and Vulnerability Analysis (HRVA) conducted by Behr Integrated Solutions Inc in 2020 for the City of Langford identifies wildfires as a significant risk for our community. The City of Langford’s Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) completed by Diamond Head Consulting in 2020 and the Provincial Wildland Urban Interface Risk Classification for Langford both note Langford being in as the highest risk category and both support the significance of developing wildland urban interface fire mitigation strategies using FireSmart principles.

FireSmart is a nationally recognized program to support local governments and First Nations on strategies to reduce the threat of wildfires. The FireSmart program is backed by a vast amount of field, laboratory, and wildfire modelling research and FireSmart principals have been shown to be effective in reducing the risk to life and property in the most extreme wildfire conditions. FireSmart is an all-encompassing program that identifies seven disciplines for improving wildfire resiliency; education, vegetation management, legislation and planning, development considerations, interagency cooperation, cross-training, and emergency planning.

In 2022, the City of Langford used UBCM funding to hire a term FireSmart Coordinator to begin developing our FireSmart Program with a focus on community engagement and public education. This included activities such as Community Clean Up Days, attending markets and events to promote FireSmart education and awareness, and working with staff and residents to conduct hazard assessments on both privately-owned and City-owned properties.

COMMENTARY

FireSmart Coordinator positions are vital to assisting communities in developing and implementing FireSmart programs. This funding will be used to hire a FireSmart coordinator (1-year term position) to further develop and implement a FireSmart Program for the City of Langford. Additionally, the application will request funding to hire a FireSmart Crew Member (3 month position) to support the FireSmart Coordinator.

For 2023, staff recommend further developing the FireSmart program and building on last year’s successes. Staff have identified numerous opportunities to increase public education and community engagement, including additional events and “FireSmart Work Days” and expanding on the neighborhood outreach within pre-identified high-risk neighborhoods. As well, the FireSmart Coordinator will participate in important liaison work with neighboring communities’ programs, internally with other City departments, and with external agencies including BC Parks and the CRD Watershed. Lastly, the addition of a FireSmart Crew member will increase the opportunities of engagement and allow for some more hands on work to be completed, such as mitigation and FireSmart landscaping activities of City critical infrastructure.

As part of the grant application, the proposal was reviewed by the Coastal BC Wildfire Prevention Officer for the South Island who supported to proposed activities.

A Council resolution of support is a requirement of the funding application.

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

The application will be for $130,000 from the UBCM CRI FireSmart Community Funding & Support funding stream which will cover the wages of both positions as well as fund activities and initiatives such as Community Cleanup Day, residential FireSmart home assessments and fuel mitigation for critical infrastructure. No additional funding will be required from the City of Langford.

LEGAL IMPLICATIONS

None.

OPTIONS

Option 1

That Council resolves that the City shall submit an application to the Community Resilience Investment Program - FireSmart Community Funding & Supports Program supporting the proposed activities and willingness for staff to provide overall grant management.

OR

Option 2

THAT Council does not support an application to the Community Resiliency Investment Program- FireSmart Community Funding & Supports Program at this time.

SUBMITTED BY

Jenny Reid, Lieutenant – Emergency Program Specialist

Concurrence:
Chris Aubrey, Fire Chief

Concurrence:
Yari Nielsen, Director of Parks, Recreation and Facilities

Concurrence:
Matthew Baldwin, MCIP, RPP, Director of Planning and Subdivision

Concurrence:
Katelyn Balzer, P.Eng, Director of Engineering and Public Works

Concurrence:
Michael Dillabaugh, CPA, CA, Director of Finance

Concurrence:
Marie Watmough, Deputy Director of Corporate Services

Concurrence: Braden Hutchins, Director of Corporate Services

Concurrence:
Darren Kiedyk, Chief Administrative Officer