Wildfire Prevention Funding in B.C. Under Strain
Communities across British Columbia are raising the alarm after changes to the FireSmart Community Funding and Supports (FCFS) wildfire prevention program slowed the flow of money used to bolster local wildfire risk reduction efforts. What had been an ongoing source of financial support now faces limits that worry fire chiefs and elected officials alike.
The FireSmart program helps local governments and Indigenous communities fund planning, education, fuel reduction and other activities meant to make communities safer from wildfires. Previously, it supplied predictable funding every year, but recent shifts — driven by a shortage of available funds — have altered how the program operates.
Funding Intake Paused, New Rules Introduced
In late January, the FCFS program closed its intake applications temporarily because the available money had nearly run out. Administrators then reopened the process with a competitive grant model, meaning communities must now compete for a smaller pot of funding instead of having access to a broader allotment.
Those changes also included limiting the types of activities the program will cover — notably removing support for fuel management work — and restricting funding to one-year projects, rather than multi-year plans. The shift has left some municipalities unsure how they will sustain wildfire prevention work.
Fire Chiefs Sound the Alarm
Fire chiefs in regions such as the Central Okanagan have voiced strong concern. West Kelowna’s fire chief said local governments and fire departments depend on the FireSmart money to keep wildfire mitigation efforts moving forward each year, and that uncertainty now threatens long-term planning and community-level resilience.
Fire officials and local leaders say proactive measures such as home assessments, public education campaigns, and vegetation management are proven to cut risk and, ultimately, protect lives and property. Without steady funding support, they worry these vital activities will be scaled back or vanish entirely.
Communities Urge Government to Act
The Union of British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM) — which administers the funding in partnership with the province and wildfire agencies — has urged provincial leaders to prioritize restoring sustainable FireSmart funding as part of B.C.’s 2026 budget talks. Councillors representing dozens of local governments and First Nations have said the program has made their communities safer, and that continued investment now could reduce the cost and devastation of future fire seasons.
As it stands, only an estimated $25 million remains for the current fire-prevention intake, and that is expected to be fully allocated once all grant decisions are made.
Importance of FireSmart in Wildfire Risk Strategy
FireSmart is a key piece of B.C.’s broader wildfire prevention strategy, which emphasizes community planning, public education and on-the-ground activities to limit fire spread. The BC Wildfire Service describes the FireSmart approach as a shared responsibility involving residents, local governments and partners working to reduce risk in fire-prone areas.
Critics of the funding shift argue that cutting or limiting money for these programs could hamper proactive prevention work just as climate change makes wildfires larger and more frequent — increasing pressure on emergency responses and budgets down the road.
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