FREE FIRESMART PROGRAM FOR 65+ RESIDENTS LAUNCHED IN LILLOOET AND PARTS OF THE REGIONAL DISTRICT
October 01, 2021
The Squamish-Lillooet Regional District and the District of Lillooet have partnered, with the support from a provincial FireSmart funding program, on a project that will help residents aged 65 and over to reduce the risk of wildfire on their properties, and surrounding areas.
You can view the full News Release
here.
The SLRD has been awarded $358,000 in FireSmart funding through a one-time COVID-19 economic recovery funding stream of the UBCM Community Resiliency Investment program.
The focus of the project is to conduct FireSmart property assessments for homeowners age 65 and older and then get the recommended yard work done, with a follow up FireSmart assessment to complete the project for each homeowner, all covered within the funding received for this project. Properties must be located in the District of Lillooet, or Electoral Area A or Electoral Area B of the SLRD, and must be the homeowner’s primary residence to qualify.
“We are thrilled to have received funds for this important initiative, and to be working together with the District of Lillooet and SLRD Electoral Area B on delivering this program,” said SLRD Electoral Area A Director, Sal DeMare.
“This is an important project, and I encourage anyone who is eligible to participate. We saw first-hand this summer, the seriousness of wildfire risk, with parts of Electoral Area B being on evacuation alert and order at various times throughout the season,” added SLRD Electoral Area B Director, Vivian Birch-Jones.
“Wildfire risk is a challenge for all of our communities,” added District of Lillooet Mayor, Peter Busse. “As we know, wildfires don’t recognize community borders. Our entire area is at risk from the threat of wildfires. Every step we can take to address this risk is a step that helps protect the entire area.”
Through this partnership, the District of Lillooet and the SLRD are hoping to target up to 250 properties.
Homeowners can apply through the SLRD and, if eligible, the local FireSmart representative will arrange with the homeowner for a time to conduct the FireSmart assessment, and make recommendations on the work required. If the homeowner agrees, a time will then be scheduled for a crew to visit the property to do the recommended work, with a follow up assessment afterwards.
Residents with questions about the program, or who wish to apply, can contact a SLRD FiresSmartTM representative directly, by calling the SLRD administration office at 604- 894-6371 x262 (toll-free: 1-800-298-7753 x262) or by email at FireSmart@slrd.bc.ca
Additional information is also available on the SLRD website:
www.slrd.bc.ca/firesmart
About the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District
Located in southwestern BC, the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District (SLRD) is a local government federation consisting of four member municipalities (the District of Lillooet, the District of Squamish, the Village of Pemberton and the Resort Municipality of Whistler) and four unincorporated, rural electoral areas (A, B, C, and D). Headquartered in Pemberton, which is the approximate geographic centre of the region, the SLRD delivers a wide range of local, regional and sub-regional services to approximately 42,665 residents (2016 Census).
Media Contact:
Patricia Westerholm Communications and Engagement Manager Squamish-Lillooet Regional District Telephone: (604) 894-6371 ext. 244 Email: pwesterholm@slrd.bc.ca