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Port Coquitlam receives first FireSmart grant to strengthen wildfire resilience
Port Coquitlam has received $103,630.63 through the FireSmart Community Funding and Supports program, its first grant under the program. The funding will support a first Community Wildfire Resiliency Plan, regional collaboration, staff capacity and public education; the project is scheduled for completion by September
The City of Port Coquitlam received $103,630.63 through the FireSmart Community Funding and Supports program on Oct. 7, 2026, to begin building a formal FireSmart program. It is the City’s first grant through the program. The money will support foundational FireSmart activities and a new Community Wildfire Resiliency Plan (CWRP).
Every community in B.C. has its own wildfire considerations, and preparedness helps protect Port Coquitlam residents, homes and infrastructure. The funding will help the City better understand local wildfire risk, identify where to focus its efforts and build a program for long-term community resilience. Mayor Brad West said wildfire risk concerns every community and that communities need to understand their risks and be prepared. He said the funding will let the City take a thoughtful, evidence-based approach, starting with a plan to identify risks and possible responses, and help protect residents and neighbourhoods for years to come.
The grant will support several foundational activities: developing Port Coquitlam’s first CWRP to assess local wildfire risk and identify recommended actions and priorities; working with neighbouring communities toward a Community FireSmart and Resiliency Collaborative for regional coordination; building FireSmart capacity within Port Coquitlam Fire & Emergency Services; and delivering public education and community outreach.
The CWRP will lay the groundwork for future FireSmart work in Port Coquitlam and guide the City’s priorities over the coming years. Work will take place over the next year and is scheduled to be completed by September 2027. Residents can find simple steps to reduce wildfire risk around their homes at FireSmartBC.ca (https://firesmartbc.ca/). The City said it will share more about its FireSmart work as the project progresses.
The FireSmart Community Funding and Supports program is administered by the Union of BC Municipalities and funded by the Province of B.C.