Whereas wildfire seasons are worsening due to climate change and wind-driven wildfire embers are responsible for igniting structures in up to 90 of wildfire-related losses; And whereas home hardening and fire-resilient landscaping is a cost effective ways to mitigate a community against a wildfire disaster: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM ask the provincial government to increase financial commitments for wildfire prevention in the Wildland-Urban Interface by providing funding to harden community infrastructure against wildfire threats, support the drafting and implementation of policies and bylaws that enhance wildfire resilience, and offer resources and incentives to assist homeowners in improving the wildfire resilience of their properties.
Ministry of Forests Ministry of Forests recognizes the shared responsibility for wildfire mitigation between the Province and local governments. The Ministry works with UBCM and the First Nations Emergency Services Society, as program partners, to continuously review the Community Resiliency Investment program and identify improvements to the program based on feedback from communities. These recommendations will be considered by the program partners. The Ministry continues to bring together partners as part of a whole-of-society approach. In 2025, government expanded BC Timber Sales mandate to bring additional expertise and capacity to support wildfire risk reduction around communities, and initiated Forest Landscape Planning processes in additional areas of the Province which will address wildfire mitigation objectives. The Ministry also continues to expand partnerships through the BC FireSmart program, including Local FireSmart Collaboratives.