The municipality of Summerland will submit a grant application for proactive wildfire prevention and mitigation works near the northwestern edge of the community
The grant application is for $930,402 from the Forest Enhancement Society of British Columbia.
The works would be in the area of Trapper’s Flats, at the edge of Summerland’s western boundary. If the grant is approved, the work will be consistent with the Crown Land Wildfire Risk Reduction Program Standards.
The project has been communicated to the local Ministry of Forests office and to the Penticton Indian Band, and is supported in principle by both.
There is a $5,487.30 application fee. However, the project itself would be fully funded by the grant amount.
The Summerland Fire Department has been working on wildfire mitigation efforts and wildfire training in past years, and wildfires have been reported close to the boundaries of the municipality.
In addition, a wildfire in August, 1996 burned on Giant’s Head Mountain, near the centre of the municipality. That fire reached a size of more than 60 hectares. While it did not destroy homes, it came within metres of houses and property lines. Around 20 houses near the fire were evacuated at the time.
In 2023, British Columbia had its worst wildfire season on record, with more than 2.8 million hectares destroyed.