Penticton is launching a bid for grant funding to help older locals get “FireSmart.”
In a late item to council on Feb. 2, the proposal from Penticton Fire Department fire chief Larry Watkinson to apply for the grant received unanimous support.
The grant would provide $150,000 from the FireSmart Economic Recovery Fund, which would go to providing three positions.
“We’ll be able to help mitigate and actually do the work for the homeowners that are over the age of 65, or unable to do the work themselves,” said Watkinson.
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There are 2,444 homes in the community that are directly impacted by wildfires, according to Watkinson.
The funding would provide three positions for staff, who would do the work of making the community meet the FireSmart standard.
“This is the best news I’ve heard in a long time, we have a lot of seniors in this town and to be able to go out and do some of the clearing for them, we can’t be too prepared these days,” said Coun. Katie Robinson.
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