OTTAWA — The federal government is doubling its investment to train urban firefighters to battle wildfires — a growing threat to Canada’s cities and towns. Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson says the government is giving $800,000 to the International Association of Fire Fighters to conduct additional training. That’s twice the sum spent last year on 25 instructors who then trained more than 300 firefighters in Chilliwack and Kamloops, B.C, and Grand Prairie, Alta. The impacts of climate change and population growth are combining to increase the risk that wildfires happen in or near urban areas. Wilkinson says nearly four million Canadians — roughly one in 10 — now live in areas where combustible forests are prevalent.

Government of Canada press release by NRCan: Government of Canada Announces More Funding to Build Wildfire Fighting Capacity and Enhance Training Best Practices