Friday March 14, 2025 | LANGFORD, BC
by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends
Four fire departments in the western communities area are receiving equipment funding through grants from the BC provincial Community Emergency Preparedness Fund (CEPF).
This enhances the capacity of local volunteer and composite fire departments to help keep people safer in emergencies.
The following local fire departments are receiving funding:
Juan de Fuca-Malahat:
- Metchosin – $39,635.76 for a hose equipment upgrade and replacement project
- Mill Bay Fire Protection District – $39,694.44 for turnout equipment
- Sooke – $28,351.70 for hoses and racks for the volunteer and composite fire departments
Langford-Highlands:
- Highlands – $34,812 for a digital fire training system.
MLA comments:
Dana Lajeunesse, MLA (Juan de Fuca-Malahat) says that funding announced this week will strengthen the work of local volunteer and composite fire departments to help keep people safer in emergencies.
“Volunteer firefighters play a crucial role in protecting small communities, but battling blazes is backbreaking work- especially when they’re constantly breaking their equipment in the process,” said Dana Lajeunesse, MLA for Juan de Fuca-Malahat.
“This funding will upgrade equipment, providing them better protection and support to continue their essential work,” says Lajeunesse.
“The hard work of volunteer firefighters helps keep people in the Highlands safe,” said Forests Minister Ravi Parmar who is the MLA for Langford-Highlands. “This funding will improve access to training, so firefighters are well prepared when emergencies happen.”
Community Emergency Preparedness Fund:
Through the Community Emergency Preparedness Fund (CEPF), the provincial government is providing more than $9 million for more than 130 projects throughout B.C., supporting over 230 fire departments that are fully or partially staffed by volunteers. This funding helps fire departments conduct and expand training, buy or replace equipment, and expand their capacity.
Since 2017, more than $26 million has been provided to volunteer and composite fire departments through the CEPF for additional equipment and training.
Provincial funding:
Administered by the Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM), the CEPF provides financial support to local governments, First Nations, and other eligible applicants to improve emergency preparedness and response efforts.
This latest funding stream focuses on volunteer and composite fire departments, which play a vital role in fire protection and emergency response across British Columbia.
===== RELATED:
Sooke Fire Rescue gets BC funding for new hoses and racks (March 14, 2025)