Photo: Skylar Noe-vack

Smoke from a wildfire in Kaleden in July of 2017.

The RDOS is continuing to try and make its rural areas more prepared for wildfires after last year's record burn in B.C.

The regional district voted on Thursday to seek funding from the Union of B.C. Municipalities to implement a fire mitigation program in three areas — Kaleden, Twin Lakes and Missezula Lake, north of Princeton.

The program focuses on educating residents on fire risks and ways to protect their properties, according to a report from RDOS staff.

A consultant with the regional district identified those three rural communities as areas that "meet the criteria" for the UBCM grant application, the report said.

The consultant deemed the fire hazard rating as extreme and high for Twin Lakes and Missezule Lake, respectively.

No fire hazard rating was given for Kaleden, but the consultant pointed out there was a "significant interface fire" last year — referring to the 5.5-hectare blaze last July that destroyed two structures and threatened others.

In November, the RDOS applied for funding to the UBCM for similar wildfire mitigation efforts in Arawana, near Naramata, and in Ellis Creek, east of Penticton.

More than $500 million was spent by the provincial government to battle wildfires in B.C. last summer.