Apply for a Community Wildfire Preparedness Day Grant

Overview

Wildfire Community Preparedness Day is a national campaign encouraging people and organizations everywhere to come together to take action to raise awareness and reduce wildfire risks.

The day is celebrated annually in the first week of May. However, events may be held between May and October.

Available funding

  • $500 annually per recipient

Deadline

  • January, annually. Dates vary – check back for 2025’s intake.

Eligibility

  • Open to any individual, organization, or community with a plan for a project

How to apply

  • Apply online with FireSmart Canada
  • 2024 applications are closed
  • Intake opens between November and January annually. Watch out for 2025’s intake

How to participate

Events are community-led – by neighbourhood leaders, Indigenous governments, Indigenous organizations, local leaders, non-profit organizations, and others.

Here’s how to plan and execute your event.

  1. Gather neighbours, friends and family; and check with neighbourhood groups for ideas and participants.
  2. Choose your event. Here are some ideas to get you started:
    • Organize a workday with others with skills and equipment to help Elders clear brush, prune, and remove trees.
    • Hold a FireSmart information session with your neighbours. Ask residents to commit to one action on their property and hold a contest with a prize for the most active community member.
    • Hold a FireSmart work bee – invite local residents to roll up their sleeves and clean up dead and downed woody debris surrounding the community.
    • Hold a FireSmart chipping event – invite local residents clean up vegetation on properties and haul it to the end of their driveway for pick up and chipping.
    • Work collectively with your neighbours to make sure that every house in your neighbourhood have eaves that are clean and free of debris!
  3. Pick a date and location for your event.
  4. Apply for funding: up to $500 is available to help you put your event on!
    • Apply online with FireSmart Canada
  5. Promote your event in the way that works best for your community
    • Here are some ideas:
      • Post to your community Facebook group – and encourage other people taking part to do the same.
      • Use the hashtags #WildfirePrepDay and #IamFireSmart on Twitter and Instagram along with pictures of your work to help build awareness
      • Make a poster to put up at the grocery store
      • Bring it up with your co-workers
    • Remember: using more will always get you more exposure
  6. Always take pictures! Share them with FireSmart_Intellifeu@gov.nt.ca to have your good work recognized.

Become a recognized FireSmart Neighbourhood

Community Wildfire Preparedness Funding is a great first step in bringing neighbours together. Take the next step – become a Neighbourhood Champion and organize your neighbourhood to create a long-term action plan to increase your wildfire resilience with help from a professional.

Learn about the FireSmart Neighbourhood Recognition Program

Already a FireSmart recognized neighbourhood?

This annual program is a great way to keep momentum going and cross items off your action plan. Make sure to apply for it annually as part of renewal!

Resources

Questions?

Get in touch. We’re ready to help support you on your FireSmart journey.

Wildfire Prevention and Mitigation Team

FireSmart_Intellifeu@gov.nt.ca
Forest Management Division
Environment and Climate Change
Government of the Northwest Territories