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Penticton to seek grant to help make city FireSmart

The grant would go towards workers who would do the work of making seniors’ properties FireSmart
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Deer Ridge in Summerland was the 100th community to meet the standards of being a FireSmart community, and with funding from the province, the Penticton Fire Department aims to make more neighbourhoods in Penticton FireSmart. (FireSmart BC)

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.

READ MORE: Deadly Penticton apartment fire caused by smoking materials

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.

To report a typo, email: editor@pentictonwesternnews.com.

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Brennan Phillips

About the Author: Brennan Phillips

Brennan was raised in the Okanagan and is thankful every day that he gets to live and work in one of the most beautiful places in Canada.
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