Community Resiliency Investment Program: FireSmart Community Funding and Supports

The FireSmart Community Funding & Supports program provides funding to local governments and First Nations in BC to increase community resiliency by undertaking community-based FireSmart planning and activities that reduce the community’s risk from wildfire. The First Nations’ Emergency Services Society (FNESS), the Forest Enhancement Society of BC (FESBC) and the Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) are working with the Ministry of Forests (Ministry) to deliver the FireSmart Community Funding & Supports program. The FireSmart program is part of the broader Community Resiliency Investment (CRI) program which is intended to reduce the risk of wildfires and mitigate their impacts on BC communities.

 

**As of February 2, 2026 the FireSmart Community Funding and Supports program will transition to the 2026 Winter/Spring Closed Intake. The program will no longer operate as an open intake and funding for fuel management activities will no longer be available under the FireSmart Community Funding & Supports program. Eligible FireSmart activities were modified. All applications for the 2026 Winter/Spring Closed Intake will be required to be submitted in full by April 30, 2026 and will be adjudicated based on merit and priority. In addition, all funding requests are now limited to one-year funding. 

 

 

 

 

All First Nations (bands, Treaty First Nations, and Indigenous National Governments with authority for lands and resources) and local governments (municipalities and regional districts) in BC are eligible to apply.

In order to ensure transparency and accountability in the expenditure of public funds, all other financial contributions for eligible portions of the project must be declared and, depending on the total value, may decrease the value of the grant. This includes any other grant funding and any revenue (e.g. sale of forest products) that is generated from activities that are funded by the FireSmart Community Funding & Supports program. 

To be eligible for funding, applications must demonstrate that proposed activities will increase community resiliency by undertaking community-based FireSmart planning and activities that reduce the community’s risk from wildfire. 

 

To qualify for funding, all applicants are required to have a FireSmart Position, participate in a Community FireSmart and Resiliency Committee and have an acceptable Community Wildfire Resiliency Plan (CWRP) or Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP). 

The program is structured to fund FireSmart activities in eligible communities throughout BC. Base funding is scaled to offer eligible applicants with lower risk of wildfire, generally demonstrated by Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) Risk Class 4 and 5, to apply for up to $150,000 per application, and applicants with a higher risk of wildfire, generally demonstrated by WUI Risk Class 1 to 3, to apply for up to $200,000 per application. Please consult the application guide for more information on determining risk.

**New in Winter/Spring 2026 - Funding is now limited to one year. Applications for two-year funding will no longer be accepted.

Applicants with phased fuel management projects are required to submit an interim report before fuel management treatments commence, including the following: Copy of the fuel management prescription that is signed by a Registered Forest Professional including all ancillary assessments, Copy of the Burn Plan that is signed by the qualified professional (for prescribed fire only). Confirmation that First Nations information sharing has been completed (for Crown land only), Maps and spatial data as required.

 

Eligible applicants can submit one application per intake, including regional applications or participation as a sub-applicant in a regional application.