Whereas volunteer fire departments throughout the province opt to provide wildland firefighting personnel and resources to assist in response to support the communities across the province during emergency wildlandinterface events; And whereas the Province provides for payment for the deployed wildland firefighting personnel and resources; And whereas the deployment of the wildland firefighting personnel and resources greatly assists in the public safety and protection of property across the province, and the delayed payment of invoices can place an undue strain on the firefighters who staff the fire apparatus and on volunteer fire department budgets who supply Structural Protection Units that go on the deployments: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM requests the Province to ensure the timely payment of deployment invoices in order to ensure that firefighters and volunteer fire departments can continue to deploy to assist in emergency wildlandinterface deployment events without having to endure financial strain.
Ministry of Forests In 2022, the Ministry of Forests BC Wildfire Service became responsible for the structure protection and defense program for the province, a responsibility previously jointly managed by the BC Wildfire Service and the Office of the Fire Commissioner. The BC Wildfire Service is increasing the efficiency and effectiveness in the payment of deployment invoices. In 2022, BC Wildfire Service established a new deployment invoicing process to accept, review and approve payment for invoices associated with all structure protection and defence deployments. The BC Wildfire Service is committed to continuously improving this system, and to building strong partnerships with local governments and encourages feedback on the timeliness of invoice payment under this new system. The BC Wildfire Service is currently working with the Fire Chiefs Association of BC to update the BC Wildfire Service Memorandum of Agreement for interagency operational procedures and reimbursement rates. Completion of this work is on track for a target release date of April 1, 2023.