Officials with Clearwater County say a recently approved provincial grant is expected to provide a significant boost for structural protection needs during any wildfires this season.

Clearwater County through Clearwater Reginal Fire Rescue Services (CRFRS) and Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) have recently received confirmation of a huge grant for the continuation of WUI for three more years.

The WUI program is described as a team of specialists who respond to structure protection needs within a wildfire. In 2019, Clearwater County was successful in getting a $580,000 grant to be one of two municipal fire departments selected to build a WUI structural program team, funded by the Province through the Alberta Fire Chiefs Association.

County Officials say the grant of $1.5 million will continue the great work of the four-person WUI team in provincial initiatives including WUI curriculum development, training, and deployments to provincial wildfire emergencies. Along with the extension of the WUI, it provides local benefits of employment opportunities, high quality training extensive experience and enhanced capacity.

Clearwater officials heard from Minister Ric McIver on March 29, the grant was approved. “This funding commitment will support the deployment operations of your WUI project for emergency response and training initiatives to build capacity across our province,” said McIver.

The WUI project will now be funded under the 2021/22 Alberta Community Partnership Strategic Initiatives from Alberta Municipal Affairs through a partnership with the Alberta Emergency Management Agency and Alberta Agriculture and Forestry.