Photo: BC Wildfire Service

More than $1 million in grants will help reduce wildfire risks in the Kamloops Fire Centre region.

The B.C. government announced on Thursday a further $1,059,199 in Community Resiliency Investment program grants to 11 local governments and First Nations communities in the Kamloops Fire Centre to support wildfire risk reduction projects.

The grants are part of a second round of 44 grants distributed provincewide and are in addition to more than $6 million provided to 85 communities in May.

"The last two summers have shown the need for better preparation in advance of wildfire seasons," said Doug Donaldson, Minister of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development. "To help keep people and communities as safe as possible, it's more important than ever that we invest in programs that reduce the risk."

The grant recipients include:

• Regional District of Central Okanagan: $30,000 to assist with planning.
• Regional District of North Okanagan: $100,000 to assist with education and fuel and vegetation management.
• District of Logan Lake: $152,712 to assist with fuel and vegetation management.
• City of Vernon: $58,200 to assist with fuel and vegetation management.
• City of West Kelowna: $100,000 to assist with fuel and vegetation management.
• District of Sicamous: $99,540 to assist with education, planning and fuel and vegetation management.
• Lower Similkameen Indian Band: $100,000 to assist with planning, fuel and vegetation management, and FireSmart activities for private land.
• Whispering Pines/Clinton Indian Band: $98,000 to assist with education, planning, emergency planning, cross-training and fuel and vegetation management.
• Adams Lake Indian Band: $20,820 to assist with fuel and vegetation management.
• Little Shuswap Lake Indian Band: $199,927 to assist with education, planning and fuel and vegetation management.
• Simpcw First Nation: $100,000 to assist with education and fuel and vegetation management.

Eligible communities can apply for grants of up to $25,000 for those facing a lower fire risk, while those facing a demonstrated higher wildfire risk can apply for up to $150,000.