‘This is a Godsend to us': Southern Manitoba community gets grant to reduce wildfire threat

a day ago

Fighting fire with fire—that's what a group of residents in the RM of Stuartburn is planning to do to protect their community from wildfire. New funding will help them do it.
On Tuesday, the Stuartburn Prescribed Burn Association along with the RM of Stuartburn was handed $116,500 through Intact Insurance's Municipal Climate Resiliency Grant.
'It is such a blessing to get that money,' said Laura Reeves, the vice-president of the association.
The group, made up of volunteers, aims to stop wildfires before they can even begin. To do that, they plan to conduct prescribed burns to remove dead or dried vegetation and brush.
'The idea is that we will be reducing the fuel load, if not eliminating it, so there will be nothing for a wildfire to catch,' Reeves said.
She said the grant money from Intact will fully equip the prescribed burn team with gear and training. This includes the purchase of a UTV, fire skid, water tank and sprayer, along with personal protective equipment for a 12-member team.
'Everything you could possibly need,' said Reeves.
The plan will be to conduct at least five prescribed burns across 100 acres.
Stuartburn is the only municipality in Manitoba to receive the grant, which was awarded to just 19 communities across Canada.
'This is a Godsend to us,' said area-Reeve Michelle Gawronsky.
'When we look around at the rest of the province, we look around at other provinces across the country, and the wildfires that are destroying so much of our lands, the RM of Stuartburn has lived through that.'
Gawronsky said in 2012 a major fire tore through the community, destroying a bridge and two homes.
Just a few months ago, hundreds of residents in Stuartburn's neighbouring municipality of Piney were forced to flee due to an out-of-control blaze.
It was the beginning of what has become the worst wildfire season in the last 30 years for Manitoba.
Gawronsky believes initiatives like this could make all the difference for municipalities facing wildfire threats.
'I absolutely believe that this is the future, the way municipalities are going to have to move forward in having the fire protection that we are going to need,' she said.
Gawronsky said an official launch for the Stuartburn Prescribed Burn Association is being planned in September.