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(JENNIFER STAHN / iNFOnews.ca)
October 02, 2021 - 2:08 PM
In the last summer, 343 homes were lost to wildfires across the province, says the parliamentary secretary for Emergency Preparedness.
“This is a sobering number... With the challenges of climate change, wildfire seasons are getting worse, here in British Columbia and around the world. We all need to do more than we have in the past, at every level, to address these challenges,” said Jennifer Rice, parliamentary secretary for Emergency Preparedness, in an opinion piece.
READ MORE: Kamloops Fire Centre sees record-breaking number of hectares burned this year
“Our shared desire is that everyone gets to rebuild quickly. But I know from past experiences that we are only at the beginning of that process. We know that rebuilding Lytton and other heavily affected areas will take time, and the province will continue to be here to offer our support as we tackle this together.”
Fire Prevention Week is Oct. 3-9 and Rice is imploring British Columbians to mitigate fire risks by undertaking FireSmart planning.
Community funding and supports are available through the province’s Community Resiliency Investment program administered by the Union of B.C. Municipalities and the deadline to apply for 2022 projects is Oct. 8, she said.
Residents need to play a role in mitigating wildfire risks around their homes.
“In speaking with firefighters and communities, these measures often make the difference. You're not only protecting your own property, you're protecting your neighbour's, too,” Rice said.
A FireSmart Begins at Home manual and more information about wildfire risk mitigation is available online.
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