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Regional CWRP creates roadmap for future
The newly adopted East Kootenay Community Wildfire Resilience Plan (CWRP) provides a current, region-wide framework to guide wildfire resilience planning, project development, grant applications, advocacy, and coordination with provincial and other partners.
“A lot has changed since our last plan was completed over 10 years ago. Wildfire risk has changed, more development has happened in the wildland–urban interface, and we’ve learned a great deal from our own experience with wildfire mitigation and emergency planning,” said Regional District of East Kootenay (RDEK) Emergency & Disaster Mitigation Coordinator Sloane More.
“This plan gives us a current, practical roadmap to help set priorities, pursue funding and work with our partners to build wildfire resilience across the region.”
The CWRP replaces the RDEK’s 2011 Community Wildfire Protection Plan. It responds to changes in wildfire risk, development within the wildland–urban interface, provincial programs, FireSmart practices, and local experience since the previous plan.
The plan was developed by Nupqu, with the assessment led by an independent Registered Professional Forester, providing an objective, expert review of wildfire risks across the region.
It is organized around the seven FireSmart disciplines: education, legislation and planning, development considerations, interagency cooperation, cross-training, emergency planning, and vegetation management.
It also includes land-use planning, emergency preparedness, public education, infrastructure protection, property-level risk reduction, and coordination among governments, First Nations, agencies, fire departments, residents and landowners.
The CWRP includes a regional overview as well as considerations specific to each of the RDEK’s six Electoral Areas. Wildfire risk varies across the region because of differences in terrain, development patterns, access and egress, forest conditions and critical infrastructure.
“Having a current plan is also an eligibility requirement for local governments applying for FireSmart funding through Union of BC Municipalities, so this was another important driver behind getting the Plan completed and adopted,” added More.
The Community Wildfire Resilience Plan was adopted by the RDEK Board on Friday and is now available on the RDEK website: www.rdek.bc.ca.
e-KNOW file photo
RDEK
