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Fire departments in Quesnel region receive cash

Prov gov invests in training and equipment for rural fire protection
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Local fire departments receive provincial government funding to cover some new training and equipment. (Cassidy Dankochik Photo - Quesnel Cariboo Observer)

More than 110 volunteer and composite fire departments throughout B.C. will receive their share of $6.3-million for equipment and training to bolster firefighting response to make people and communities safer.

Some of those departments are located in this region.

“Many people across the province live in communities with fire services delivered by volunteer or part-volunteer fire departments, and they depend on those fire crews to keep them and their families safe when fires happen,” said Bowinn Ma, Minister of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness. “These fire crews have different challenges than most fire departments, and this funding will go a long way by supporting them to purchase new or replacement equipment and deliver training to their volunteers and staff.”

Funding through the Community Emergency Preparedness Fund (CEPF) will be distributed to 114 local governments, First Nations and volunteer and composite fire departments. Composite fire departments have a mix of paid staff and unpaid volunteers.

“Volunteer and composite fire departments are vital public safety partners in B.C.’s local and First Nations communities,” said Brian Godlonton, B.C.’s fire commissioner. “This funding for new equipment and training will support dedicated fire crews as they continue their important work in keeping communities safe.”

CEPF is a set of programs divided into several funding streams, including public notification and evacuation planning, emergency support services, and extreme heat risk mapping, assessment and planning.

Since 2017, First Nations and local governments have been approved for more than $111-million through CEPF for more than 1,300 projects that help communities mitigate and prepare for disasters and climate-related emergencies.

The departments closest to Quesnel to receive this latest round of funding include:

- 100 Mile House - Sprinkler protection unit ($29,960)

- Chimney and Felker Lakes Volunteer Fire Department - Wildland fire training and equipment upgrade ($29,981.43)

- Horsefly Volunteer Fire Department - Program for B.C. structure firefighter minimum training standards ($29,393)

- McLeese Lake Volunteer Fire Department - Fire protection ($23,076)

- Watch Lake-North Green Volunteer Fire Department - Safety equipment for new recruits ($27,552)

- Wells - Volunteer Fire Brigade equipment and training project ($29,947.63)



Frank Peebles

About the Author: Frank Peebles

I started my career with Black Press Media fresh out of BCIT in 1994, as part of the startup of the Prince George Free Press, then editor of the Lakes District News.
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