BC’s Emergency Management Minister says local governments and First Nations that have been adversely affected by wildfires this summer can apply for Disaster Financial Assistance.

Bowinn Ma says it comes as some people and communities are beginning to recover after “relentless” wildfire season that is slowly winding down.

“For wildfire events, this funding can serve several purposes including helping communities rebuild or repair essential public infrastructure like roads and bridges. Ma said. “It can also help local communities replace essential materials and support expenses related to inspections, appraisals, planning and design processes needed to determine recovery costs.”

The DFA program – which has been opened up to residents during other emergencies like flooding in Merritt in 2021 and Cache Creek this spring – is meant to help restore uninsurable losses that are deemed essential to their homes or their livelihoods.

“I should be clear, that Disaster Financial Assistance is intended to cover losses causes by disasters that are not insurable,” Ma added. “And so, in the case of wildfires it will be largely be public infrastructure, so public roads, public road, and other public assets.”

People who have lost homes or other structures to fires this summer are being encouraged to contact their insurance providers.

“Standard home and business insurance policies cover fire damage and additional living expenses – for things such as food, shelter and clothing – if residents were required to leave their homes due to an evacuation order issued by their local government or First Nation,” a statement from the BC Government said.

Ma says work to assess the full extent of the damage caused by the fire season is still underway.

“These communities have been through something very challenging and very traumatic,” Ma added. “Different communities will move at different speeds and we also have wildfire conditions that are different across the province.”

“Our ability to get back into some areas to make assessments that will change over time and hopefully improve over time. At this time we are looking at structural losses across the province and in the hundreds. But this is, again, very preliminary right now.”