B.C. pledges $359M in new funding to fight wildfires
At the Langford fire hall, Chief Chris Aubrey has concerns heading into the dry summer months.
"It could still be a really active wildfire season," said Aubrey. "Obviously it hasn’t been that way so far, it has been cold and it has been wet."
Those conditions have meant the risk of wildfires in this province have been minimal, but he sees a potential problem on the horizon.
"What it’s done is allowed the fuels to grow for a longer period of time than they normally would," said the fire chief.
"The grasses are longer and the plants have grown much bigger because of the colder, wetter weather," he said.
Aubrey's concern is that if the weather suddenly shifts to hot and dry, fuel for wildfires could be in abundance.
WILDFIRE FUNDING
On Friday, the province announced $359 million in new funding for fighting wildfires in budget 2022.
"We have made the largest investment in the history of the B.C. Wildfire Service," said Katrina Conroy, B.C.'s Minister of Forests in a statement Friday.
"This includes $145 million that will help us transform the organization into a year-round service," she said.
The B.C. Wildfire Service will now transition its attack plan from a reactive model of fighting fires to a more proactive model of preventing fires.
Roughly $90 million in funding this year will go to the FireSmart program which provides tools and information to protect homes and communities from wildfires.
"Sometimes it’s very simple steps to make sure they are doing their part to help prevent wildfires," said Aubrey.
Through the FireSmart program, Langford Fire Rescue has hired a local FireSmart representative who does fire risk assessments on city property, as well home assessments.
Aubrey says there are things that you can do to keep your home safe.
That includes setting up a non-combustible priority zone around your home of at least one to three metres.
Another idea is to plant drought-resistant plants on your property.
So far this year, the province has seen approximately 140 wildfires. That’s only 60 per cent of the five-year average.
"We have staffed up and the crews are training, getting fit and healthy and learning all the new technology," said Dorthe Jakobsen, fire information officer at the Coastal Fire Centre in Parksville, B.C.
"We’re ready to go," she said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
DEVELOPING Iran fires at suspected Israeli attack drones near Isfahan air base and nuclear site
Iran fired air defences at a major air base and a nuclear site early Friday morning near the central city of Isfahan after spotting drones, which were suspected to be part of an Israeli attack in retaliation for Tehran's unprecedented drone-and-missile assault on the country.
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer denied bail after being charged with killing Canadian couple
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.
Nearly half of China's major cities are sinking, researchers say
Nearly half of China's major cities are suffering 'moderate to severe' levels of subsidence, putting millions at risk of flooding especially as sea levels rise.
Prince Harry formally confirms he is now a U.S. resident
Prince Harry, the son of King Charles III and fifth in line to the British throne, has formally confirmed he is now a U.S. resident.
Judge says 'no evidence fully supports' murder case against Umar Zameer as jury starts deliberations
The judge presiding over the trial of a man accused of fatally running over a Toronto police officer is telling jurors the possible verdicts they may reach based on the evidence in the case.
Health Canada to change sperm donor screening rules for men who have sex with men
Health Canada will change its longstanding policy restricting gay and bisexual men from donating to sperm banks in Canada, CTV News has learned. The federal health agency has adopted a revised directive removing the ban on gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men, effective May 8.
Colin Jost names one celebrity who is great at hosting 'Saturday Night Live'
Colin Jost, who co-anchors Saturday Night Live's 'Weekend Update,' revealed who he thinks is one of the best hosts on the show.
Sports columnist apologizes for 'oafish' comments directed at Caitlin Clark. The controversy isn't over
A male columnist has apologized for a cringeworthy moment during former University of Iowa superstar and college basketball's highest scorer Caitlin Clark's first news conference as an Indiana Fever player.
'Shopaholic' author Sophie Kinsella reveals brain cancer diagnosis
Sophie Kinsella, the best-selling author behind the 'Shopaholic' book series, has revealed that she is receiving treatment for brain cancer.