Emergency Management and Climate Readiness
Victoria Friday, March 14, 2025 8:30 AM
More than 130 projects for more than 230 volunteer and composite fire departments will receive funding through new training and equipment to strengthen emergency response and better keep people in British Columbia safe.
“During an emergency, people rely on volunteer firefighters and community fire crews to keep their loved ones and homes safe,” said Kelly Greene, Minister of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness. “By providing funding for equipment and training, we’re strengthening local firefighting capabilities so that people in rural and remote communities who depend on volunteer or partial volunteer fire departments are safer and better protected.”
Communities throughout B.C. rely on volunteer firefighters to protect people, homes and businesses when a fire breaks out. Through the Community Emergency Preparedness Fund (CEPF), the Province is providing more than $9 million, which will benefit more than 230 fire departments in the province that are wholly or partially staffed with volunteer firefighters. This funding will help build the capacity of volunteer and composite fire departments to prepare and respond to emergencies through the purchase of new or replacement equipment and the expansion of firefighter training. Composite fire departments are those that have a mix of paid staff and volunteers.
Since 2017, more than $26 million has been provided to volunteer and composite fire departments through the CEPF for additional equipment and training. This funding also helps fire departments meet the B.C. structure-firefighter training standards established by the Office of the Fire Commissioner (OFC).
“Volunteer and composite fire departments are a cornerstone of our emergency response system, especially in rural and remote communities where they are often the first line of defence,” said Garry Begg, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General. “This funding will help ensure these dedicated first responders have the tools and training they need to keep people safe. By investing in the capabilities of our local fire departments, we are helping protect communities across the province.”
Funding will be provided to local governments, First Nations and community-run volunteer and composite fire departments for various projects in the province. This includes:
- equipment to support a new training facility and live fire-training props for the Nanoose Volunteer Fire Department and the Qualicum Beach Fire Rescue composite fire department;
- upgrading and replacing equipment, and new firefighting training for the Atlin Volunteer Fire Department;
- new self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) equipment to strengthen fire response by the Heiltsuk Fire Department;
- new equipment for the sprinkler protection unit of the 100 Mile House Fire Rescue volunteer fire department; and
- live fire training for the Mackenzie Fire Rescue Department for improved fire response.
People and communities in British Columbia are experiencing more frequent and more extreme weather events due to climate change. The Community Emergency Preparedness Fund helps communities mitigate and prepare for emergencies by funding local projects and initiatives in several categories. These include public notification and evacuation-route planning, emergency operations centres equipment and training, Indigenous cultural safety and cultural humility training, and emergency support services equipment and training.
The Province has invested $369 million into CEPF since it was established in 2017. To date, approximately $310 million has been disbursed to First Nations and local governments for approximately 2,300 projects that help communities prepare for disasters and climate-related emergencies. The CEPF is administered by the Union of BC Municipalities on behalf of the Province.
Learn More:
For information about the Community Emergency Preparedness Fund, visit: https://www.ubcm.ca/cepf
For information about the Office of the Fire Commissioner, visit: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/safety/public-safety/fire-safety
