The provincial government is encouraging communities to apply for funding to develop community wildland fire resiliency plans under a new program designed to help reduce the risk of wildfire and better protect homes.

The plans will incorporate education, emergency planning, vegetation management and other principles to implement wildfire prevention and mitigation projects on a community level.

The greatest level of property damage from wildfires last summer was on the Conception Bay North Shore, only a portion of which – the amalgamated town of Small Point, Broad Cove, Blackhead and Adam’s Cove – is incorporated.

Applications are open until March 10.