Sooke is looking to improve wildfire resilience in the district as council votes to apply for new funding from the FireSmart program.
“Fires are here to stay, and they’re getting worse. I think this FireSmart program is really good for Sooke, and interest is increasing,” said Madison Crawford of Sooke Fire Rescue.
“During the L.A. fires, my phone was off the hook for a few days. We saw the Old Man Lake fire last year, and that was a bit of an eye-opener.”
The FireSmart Community Funding and Support program is a wildfire prevention initiative created by Partners in Protection and administered by the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre. It provides funding to municipal governments and First Nations in B.C. to increase community resilience through planning and activities aimed at reducing wildfire risk.
The program is distributed by the Union of B.C. Municipalities and allocates funding based on wildfire risk ratings.
“Sooke is currently the highest rating you can get,” said Crawford.
The grant would provide Sooke $400,000 over two years, from April 1, 2025, to April 1, 2027, to spend on wildfire resilience. Sooke has recieved funding from the FireSmart program since 2021.
In the past, grant money has been used to integrate B.C. FireSmart education programs into grade schools, such as Poirier Elementary. The district now hopes to expand the program to other schools, including John Muir Elementary.
“The feedback was awesome. The kids really liked it,” said Crawford.
The funding would allow for more community education and awareness initiatives, such as presentations and pop-up booths at fairs and markets. One upcoming presentation, set to be held at the Artisan Garden April 27, will provide residents with information on fire-resilient plants. Receipt of the grant will also allow Sooke Fire to continue to conduct home ignition assessments and prepare other mitigation strategies.
In addition, Crawford highlighted plans to upgrade infrastructure at fire halls 1 and 2.
Crawford also announced plans to introduce wildfire development permit areas, which would allow the district to consider wildfire threats when planning new developments. If implemented, Sooke would join municipalities such as North Vancouver, North Cowichan and Squamish in adopting the policy.
The funding will allow Sooke Fire Rescue to better mitigate risk in green spaces such as Deerlepe Park and Ravens Ridge, which have been identified as high-risk areas due to dead standing trees and large amounts of broom.
Council members praised Sooke Fire Rescue's efforts and were eager to pursue the funding.
“We know that we need as much help as we can get in this area. I am pleased that we are looking for dollars that don’t come out of our tax base,” said Coun. Tony St-Pierre.
“I want to congratulate you on the work you have done so far. I’ve noticed a difference in this community, and I’ve noticed a difference in people’s attitudes,” said Coun. Al Bedows, who highlighted 2024’s Old Man Lake fire as a wake-up call for the community.
In the past, the grant has funded residential home and park assessments, strategic vegetation management in high-risk areas, and support for the T’Sou-ke Nation in developing its community wildfire resilience plan.
More information on Sooke’s current FireSmart plan can be found on the wildfire prevention page at sooke.ca.
