The Haisla Nation Volunteer Fire Department assists in breaking down and cleaning up afire scene in 2022. The Haisla fire department along with the Southside Volunteer Fire Department have received a combined $53,500 to improve emergency response capabilities. (Kitimat Firefighter Paramedics/Facebook)
Fire departments in two Northwest communities are receiving a combined $53,500 to boost emergency response capabilities through new equipment and facility upgrades.
The Haisla Nation Fire Department was awarded $34,500 to strengthen its medical first responder program with automated external defibrillators and CPR machines.
South of Burns Lake, the Southside Volunteer Fire Department will also use a $19,000 grant to upgrade its fire hall, improving safety and operational efficiency for its volunteer crew.
"These investments build safety and resilience," said Ravi Kahlon, Minister of Jobs and Economic Growth.
"New equipment for the Haisla Nation and upgrades to the Southside Volunteer Fire Department strengthen local capacity to respond to challenges, essential for economic growth and stability in our communities."
Established in 1997, the Nechako-Kitamaat Development Fund is jointly financed by the Province of British Columbia and the former Alcan Inc., now Rio Tinto.
The fund supports projects that promote economic diversification, job creation, and infrastructure improvements in communities impacted by the original Kemano project.
The funding was approved by the Nechako-Kitamaat Development Fund Society Board of Directors as part of what they call ongoing commitment to supporting infrastructure and services in the region.
Cindy Shelford, chair of the society, said the organization is "pleased to invest in these two projects that strengthen community resilience by supporting the hard work of our volunteer emergency response teams."
Rio Tinto's Tanya Thorpe, manager of Communities and Social Performance, also acknowledged the importance of first responders.
"Volunteer first responders play a key role in keeping Northern and First Nation communities safe," she said.
"Through the Nechako-Kitamaat Development Fund, Rio Tinto is very proud to help provide the equipment and resources required to assist people in need."
The next application deadline for grant funding is Jan. 31, 2026.
For requests under $7,500, applications are accepted on a continuous basis.
The society encourages applications from local governments, local First Nations governments and legally incorporated non-profit organizations.
NKDF says it invests in projects that create sustainable employment, diversify the economy, and improve the basic infrastructure needed for community stability, quality of life and growth.