Vernon Matters file photo

By Liam Verster

not feasible

Vernon votes against providing fire protection in remote Area B

Apr 12, 2023 | 6:00 AM

The City of Vernon will not be providing firefighters to a remote region of Area B.

The Regional District of North Okanagan had requested the city provide fire protection for a section of Area B south of Predator Ridge.

The proposed agreement would have Vernon respond to fire incidents for properties in the Commonage from the Lake Country boundary, and including Bailey Road, for a fee paid by the affected properties.

That area consist of 43 parcels of land, making up approximately 2,696 acres, with approximately 60 structures in the area. However, Fire Chief David Lind told Vernon city council at its meeting Tuesday , April 11, there were only approximately 40 residential buildings in the area, with the rest being outbuildings.

The request would have the Vernon Fire Rescue Services (VFRS) station at Predator Ridge (Station 3) respond to incidents within a ten minute window, as the estimated response from the stations in downtown Vernon and Okanagan Landing is 24 minutes.

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Lind stated, if Station 3 was used, they could expect to collect approximately $40,000 from Area B residents, but said that doesn’t provide enough to fund a fully functional station.

“To establish Station 3 with a four person compliment would be in the magnitude of $2-million annually,” Lind told council.

“If we were doing a light engine company, so only two people who can’t go in [to a fire] but can do some really good things: a first responder [could] reset the fire while waiting on the other crews. So looking at the limited scope here, you’re in the magnitude of a million, $1.2-million. So there’s a big gap.”

Lind noted the Predator Ridge area only generates approximately 25 to 40 calls for fire service per year, and that most of those are for fire alarms or first responders. Comparatively, VFRS responds to a total of approximately 4,400 calls per year.

it was also noted that VFRS is currently still trying to bolster its ranks to best serve its existing catchment area.

Vernon city staff had recommended council decline the request, though it was noted the matter could be brought forward again in the future for consideration.

Council voted to decline the request, with Councillor Teresa Durning being the sole vote in opposition. She had stated she wished to pursue the matter and stated her vote would reflect her want to address the issue immediately.

Speaking with Vernon Matters following the meeting, Mayor Victor Cumming stated the request is reasonable, but reiterated VFRS does not have the capacity to serve the area with its own station.

“With fire services in rural areas with very low densities, the situation is you hardly ever get calls, even the Predator Ridge community only gets called very few times which are usually health emergencies or false alarms,” Cumming explained.

“So, as it sits right now, very few calls into that area already, and now if we’re going to station even more capacity up there, again it’s very few calls.”

He also noted the costs do not align with establishing and manning Station 3 to serve those roughly 40 residences, but added it is something they will continue to look at in the future as the ranks at the existing two stations are bolstered.

“When the city, over time, adds capacity to the point where Predator Ridge is staffed I suspect, or with a really good fully staffed auxiliary or professionals or a mix, then I think we’re open to entertaining the question again,” Cumming told Vernon Matters.