Photo: File photo

The Okanagan Centre Wildfire destroyed several homes in the summer of 2017.

A new research position has been created by the provincial government to help predict when and where wildfires may occur.

On Thursday, the B.C. government announced a $5 million endowment to create a new fire research chair position in predictive services, emergency management and fire science at Thompson Rivers University. Mike Flannigan, a leading expert on wildfire behaviour currently working at the University of Alberta, has been appointed to the role.

“The wildfire landscape is becoming more challenging and demanding due to climate change, so I'm excited to help shape the future of wildfire prediction and analysis as part of a collective research effort,” Flannigan said in a statement.

The research goals of this new position include developing methods to help predict where wildfires may start and where extreme fire weather could develop, along with developing an early warning wildfire notification system.

Beginning next month, Flannigan will work directly with the BC Wildfire Service staff to address challenges they face in predicting fire behaviour.

"Too many British Columbians have seen the devastating impacts of wildfires and the havoc wreaked on people's lives, homes, local economies, wildlife and the environment," said Anne Kang, Minister of Advanced Education and Skills Training, in a statement.

"We're fortunate to have the experience of Mike Flannigan assume this new research chair, the first of its kind in B.C., and how this unique and timely research will benefit other post-secondary institutions through knowledge exchange."

The province also announced an additional $15 million in funding to the Community Resiliency Investment program, which provides grants to local government's and First Nations to help fund wildfire risk reduction programs.