FOR RELEASE #06-212
September 7, 2006
FIRESMART PROJECTS HELP KEEP COMMUNITIES SAFE
WHITEHORSE - Community Services Minister Glenn Hart, and Energy, Mines and Resources Minister Archie Lang recently approved 24 FireSmart projects valued at $851,156.
"The Yukon FireSmart program has a strong record of enhancing community safety," Hart said. "FireSmart treated areas become more useable for recreational purposes, waste wood fuels are removed, there are the associated employment opportunities, and the bottom line is -- by managing vegetation surrounding our communities, we can reduce the threat of wildland urban interface fires."
"The benefits of the FireSmart program are becoming better understood," Lang said. "The reduction of forest fuels in and around our communities not only improves our opportunity to control wildland urban interface fire, but it also contributes towards healthier forest areas."
A new pilot program designed to assist non-profit organizations to raise funds has been introduced on a trial basis to measure its effectiveness. "It is much the same as the spring highway clean-up program," Hart said. "Eligible organizations can assist in the clean-up of a FireSmart treated area and generate funds for their organization. We're still working out the details and hope to make a formal announcement on this soon."
The FireSmart program offers technical support and funds community projects that help to treat vegetation based on the three R's: removal, reduction and replacement. There are various treatments available, including removal of deadfall and forest fuels, the spacing and thinning of trees, and re-planting with less flammable tree species.
FireSmart also supports communities to develop long-term wildland urban interface fire safety plans, and make roadways more accessible to fire-fighting equipment. The program creates local employment and skills development with the goal of enhancing the protection of Yukon communities and reducing the potential for significant losses from wildfire.
Copies of the FireSmart program handbook are available at Yukon public libraries, the Inquiry Desk at the Yukon government's main administration building in Whitehorse, the Territorial Agent offices in the rural communities, or by visiting the Yukon government website: www.gov.yk.ca.
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Attachment: FireSmart Project Awards
| Contact: | |
| Peter Carr | Doug Caldwell |
| Cabinet Communications Advisor | Communications Analyst |
| (867) 667- 8688 | Community Services |
| peter.carr@gov.yk.ca | (867) 667-8065 |
| doug.caldwell@gov.yk.ca |
Approved FireSmart Projects
FireSmart Projects Announced September 2006
| Mendenhall Recycling Society |
$38,000 |
|
| Village of Mayo |
$38,038 |
|
| Kluane Lake Athletic Association |
$37,038 |
|
| Village of Teslin |
$37,038 |
|
| Town of Faro |
$37,038 |
|
| Tagish Volunteer Fire Department |
$38,038 |
|
| White River First Nation |
$40,000 |
|
| Carcross Tagish First Nation |
$37,038 |
|
| Yukon Electric Company Ltd. |
$10,000 |
|
| Marsh Lake Fire Rescue |
$38,038 |
|
| Tr’ondek Hwëch’in First Nation |
$37,038 |
|
| Champagne Aishihik First Nation |
$38,038 |
|
| Liard First Nation |
$37,038 |
|
| Non-Profit Society Pilot Project |
$30,000 |
|
| Lorne Mountain Community Association |
$38,038 |
|
| Town of Watson Lake |
$38,038 |
|
| Selkirk First Nation |
$37,038 |
|
| Porter Creek Community Association |
$37,038 |
|
| Kwanlin Dun First Nation |
$38,038 |
|
| Wolf Creek Community Association |
$38,038 |
|
| Ta-an Kwach’an Council |
$38,000 |
|
| Old Crow |
$32,316 |
|
| Village of Haines Junction |
$32,000 |
|
| Nacho Nyak Dun |
$30,232 |
|
| Total |
$851,156 |
