SCRD secures funding for FireSmart program

The Sunshine Coast Regional District's (SCRD) FireSmart program will continue in the region thanks to $1.58 million in provincial funding through the 2026 Community Resiliency Investment (CRI) - FireSmart Community Funding and Supports program, administered by the Union of British Columbia Municipalities.

The funding will support continued wildfire risk reduction efforts across the Sunshine Coast through the FireSmart programming, helping to protect and prepare communities, infrastructure, and natural areas from the increasing threat of wildfire.

The funding will enable the SCRD to:

• Continue FireSmart education, outreach, and mitigation activities.
• Support up to four full-time equivalent FireSmart staff positions.
• Purchase structure protection equipment to improve emergency response capacity.

This funding builds on ongoing collaboration with regional partners, including the Town of Gibsons, District of Sechelt, and the shíshálh Nation Government District, to enhance community safety and preparedness.

FireSmart is a nationally recognized program that focuses on practical actions residents and communities can take to reduce wildfire risk. On the Sunshine Coast, it includes free home assessments, vegetation management, community engagement, and local mitigation projects.

The program remains an important component of the SCRD's broader climate resilience and emergency preparedness efforts, supporting long-term wildfire mitigation and public awareness activities in collaboration with community partners.

For more information about the SCRD FireSmart program, or to schedule your free assessment, visit: www.scrd.ca/firesmart