Prince George, B.C. –  The wildfires of the summer of 2017  have been devastating to   communities  throughout the Cariboo  and the Thompson-Nicola region and the regional District of Fraser Fort George wants to  ensure  communities  within its boundaries  are protected.

Hundreds of buildings  were lost to the flames over the summer,   more than 10 thousand people were  forced to  leave their homes and  head to Prince George  for shelter and assistance.

The Regional District of Fraser Fort George  has raised the issue of  forest fuel treatment  on Crown Lands in the past,   and  will now  explore a variety of funding opportunities offered through the Union of British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM) to mitigate the risks associated with wildfire in the region.

Specifically, the Regional District will seek funding for prevention and preparedness initiatives. Initial funding requests will be focused on:
– evaluating wildfire risks with an objective to empower residents to act on their properties,
– leveraging additional sources of grant funding to assist in development of community protection and response plans,
– integration of plans and projects with adjacent local governments and First Nations.