Following a challenging wildfire season, the provincial government is investing in prevention and response.

Natural Resources Minister John Herron announced $2.6 million in funding for 50 communities across the province.

The funds are part of a $14.5-million federal-provincial investment under the federal Resilient Communities through FireSmart program.

“We were extremely fortunate not to have lost any lives or infrastructure this past summer,” Herron said. “And we anticipate that the wildfire risk to our province is going to continue to increase due to climate change.”

The funding will allow the communities to create resiliency plans, which Herron said are essential to ensuring communities are ready to deal with wildfires.

Saint John-Kennebecasis MP Wayne Long said wildfire risks vary from one region to another, and the plans are crucial for creating solutions that meet the varying needs of communities across the province.

“This investment ensures that communities have the expertise and resources to strengthen their resilience and protect their families, homes and critical infrastructure for years to come,” Long said.

Community wildfire resiliency plans typically have four components.

First is risk assessment, identifying areas that are most vulnerable to wildfires.

Next comes mitigation strategies, implementing measures to reduce wildfire risks. This might include creating defensible spaces, improving building codes and managing vegetation.

The third component is emergency response. That includes developing evacuation plans and firefighting and communication during a wildfire.

The final component is community engagement. This may include educating and involving members of the community in preparedness and resilience efforts.