Ministry of Forests Media Centre

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Cranbrook to become model FireSmart community

August 11, 2004

	A pilot project to protect people and property from the threat of wildfire was announced in Cranbrook on Aug. 11, 2004. The B.C. Forest Service is providing up to $50,000 in funding for manpower and technical expertise to treat local interface areas and reduce the risk of an interface fire. Forests Minister Michael de Jong discusses the government's commitment to reducing community wildfire risk with firefighter and Rocky Mountain unit crew leader Shane Parnell, Southeast Fire Centre manager Gene Desnoyers and first year crew member Trevor Barr.
	The Forests Minister looks on as B.C. Forest Service firefighters demonstrate one of the fuel management techniques that can be used to reduce the risks of wildfire to communities.
	One of the proposed locations for the FireSmart pilot project is just south of Cranbrook. Visiting the site with Forests Minister de Jong were: Cranbrook city councillor Angus Davies, Southeast Fire Centre manager Gene Desnoyers, Cranbrook Fire Chief Gerry Fox, East Kootenay MLA Bill Bennett and East Kootenay Regional District director Mike Kartasheff.