With the increased risk of fires, both Cumberland and the Comox Valley Regional District (CVRD) will receive funding through new training and equipment to strengthen emergency response and better keep people in the community safe.

Cumberland will receive a phase three training ground for the Cumberland Fire Rescue coming in at $40,000. The CVRD Fire Departments will receive equipment and training in the amount of $275,200. 

鈥淒uring an emergency, people rely on volunteer firefighters and community fire crews to keep their loved ones and homes safe,鈥� said Kelly Greene, Minister of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness. 鈥淏y providing funding for equipment and training, we鈥檙e strengthening local firefighting capabilities so that people in rural and remote communities who depend on volunteer or partial volunteer fire departments are safer and better protected.鈥�

This funding will help build the capacity of volunteer and composite fire departments to prepare and respond to emergencies through the purchase of new or replacement equipment and the expansion of firefighter training. Composite fire departments are those that have a mix of paid staff and volunteers.