Staff Report to Council: CRI Program – 2026 FireSmart Community Funding & Supports

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:

The purpose of this report is to seek a Council resolution to support the application to the Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) FireSmart Community Funding & Supports grant opportunity. If successful, the City seeksto further develop and expand the FireSmart BC Program while continuing to promote community engagement, education, and collaboration with key partners across the region to mitigate wildfire risks. The program aims to raise awareness and preparedness against wildfires, and to ensure ongoing education opportunities are available for Langford residents.

BACKGROUND:

The Community Resiliency Investment (CRI) Program is a suite of funding programs intended to support programs that reduce the risk of wildfires and mitigate their impacts on BC Communities. Funding is provided by the Province and administered by UBCM. There are several funding streams available; for the purpose of this report, the funding stream being applied for is FireSmart Community Funding& Supports. The UBCM FireSmart funding stream provides opportunities to local governments and First Nations to increase community resiliency by undertaking community based FireSmart planning and activities that reduce the community's risk from wildfires.

The City of Langford's Community Wildfire Resiliency Plan (CWRP) and the Provincial Wildland Urban Interface Risk Classification both highlight the need for developing wildland urban interface fire mitigation strategies using FireSmart principles. The seven key FireSmart disciplines include public education, vegetation management, legislation and planning, development considerations, interagency cooperation, cross-training, and emergency planning. If the application is successful, the grant funding will support initiatives across all of these areas.

FireSmart is a nationally recognized program to support local governments and First Nations on strategies to reduce the threat of wildfires. The FireSmart program is backed by a vast amount of field, laboratory, and wildfire modelling research and the FireSmart principles have been shown to be effective in reducing the risk to life and property in the most extreme wildfire conditions.

COMMENTARY:

In 2023, the City of Langford used UBCM funding to hire a FireSmart Coordinator, on a term contract, to continue developing our FireSmart Program with a strong focus on community engagement and public education. The City’s efforts encompassed a comprehensive approach to wildfire mitigation, incorporating education, community engagement, development considerations, interagency cooperation, emergency planning, training, and specific projects targeting critical infrastructure and residential areas.

This funding opportunity aims to continue supporting the FireSmart Coordinator position. This will allow for further development and expansion of the FireSmart BC Program on behalf of the City of Langford. As well, it will allow the City to implement the recommendations identified in the Community Wildfire Resiliency Plan.

The FireSmart Coordinator will continue promoting the FireSmart BC Program to Langford residents. To date, the program has contributed to awareness within the community, and residents are embracing the wildland urban interface mitigation strategies and FireSmart principles. Building upon these efforts will involve integrating wildfire prevention and preparedness education into community events, providing school presentations, and facilitating local park clean-ups. Efforts will be made to extend outreach into higher-risk neighborhoods through public information sessions, curbside yard waste chipping days, and individual home assessments. Collaborative initiatives internally within the City, with the Parks and Planning departments for example, will focus on incorporating FireSmart principles into green spaces and integrating wildfire hazard considerations into development permits.

The FireSmart Coordinator will remain an active member of the Greater Victoria Community FireSmart Resiliency Committee, fostering collaboration with neighboring communities and sharing best practices and resources to promote wildfire mitigation messaging and efforts throughout the region.

Overall, the Langford FireSmart Program aimsto heighten community awareness and resilience against the threat of wildfires. Continued support and investment in program initiatives will enable ongoing wildfire mitigation education to Langford residents.

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:

The City is seeking $200,000 to fund activities and initiativessuch as community clean-up days, residential FireSmart home assessments, and fuel mitigation for critical infrastructure and green spaces for one year through the UBCM CRI FireSmart Community Funding& Supports grant funding stream. The funding will also be utilized to cover the wages of the City’s FireSmart Coordinator.

LEGAL IMPLICATION:

The UBCM grant program requires a Council resolution in support of the City’s application.

OPTIONS:

1. Option 1
   THAT Council supports an application to the Community Resiliency Investment Program – FireSmart Community Funding & Supports, and that the Council and City are supportive of the proposed activities and will provide overall grant management.

2. OR Option 2
   THAT Council receive this report for information and not move forward with an application to the Community Resiliency Investment Program - FireSmart Community Funding & Supports at this time.

SUBMITTED BY:

Courtney Tremblay, FireSmart Coordinator

Concurrence:

• Concurrence: Chris Aburey, Fire Chief
• Concurrence: Melisa Miles, Manager of Legislative Services
• Concurrence: Donna Petrie, Senior Manager of Communications & Economic Development
• Concurrence: Yari Nielsen, Director of Parks, Recreation and Facilities
• Concurrence: Leah Stohmann, RPP, MCIP, Director of Community Planning and Development
• Concurrence: Katelyn Balzer, P.Eng., Director of Engineering and Public Works
• Concurrence: Michael Dillabaugh, CPA, CA, Director of Finance
• Concurrence: Marie Watmough, Director of Legislative & Protective Services
• Concurrence: Braden Hutchins, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer
• Concurrence: Darren Kiedyk, Chief Administrative Officer

Contact:

• t 250.478.7882
• e administration@langford.ca
• 2nd Floor, 877 Goldstream Avenue
  Langford, BC V9B 2X8