Central and South Okanagan communities are receiving part of more than $9 million from the province for training and equipment to strengthen emergency response.
The Community Emergency Preparedness Fund (CEPF) will benefit more than 230 fire departments in the province that are wholly or partially staffed with volunteer firefighters.
鈥淒uring an emergency, people rely on volunteer firefighters and community fire crews to keep their loved ones and homes safe,鈥� Minister of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness, Kelly Greene, said in a statement.
Funding will be provided to local governments, First Nations and community-run volunteer and composite fire departments for various projects in the province.
Communities receiving funds in the Central and South Okanagan are:
- Central Okanagan Regional District - Equipment upgrades - $88,661;
- Lake Country - New and replacement thermal imaging cameras - $40,000;
- Okanagan-Similkameen Regional District - Volunteer Fire Department Enhancement Project - equipment and training - $274,414;
- Oliver - Enhancing the Oliver Fire Department - equipment and training - $40,000;
- Peachland - Wildland protective clothing and firefighting equipment - $39,040;
- Princeton - PPE, equipment and training - $38,500;
- Summerland - Structure firefighting equipment - $39,185.
The Province has invested $369 million into CEPF since it was established in 2017.
