Starlee Speers - Vernon 105.7 SUNFM
After months of firey debate, Vernon council has voted to keep the status quo at the Okanagan Landing Volunteer Fire hall. Landing Fire chief Ed Forslund says the call volume just doesn't justify paid, full-time fire fighters. Vernon fire chief Jeff Carlisle says he'll keep presenting the city with the information they're requesting and recommending improvements...which will likely involve putting professional firefighters at the hall. The debate over the fire plan has been lengthy and often emotional. Forslund says that emotion does not carry over to the fire ground. Council didn't address the issue of dual response but the Landing Fire Chief says he's not sure it's always required on every call. But Vernon Fire Chief Jeff Carlisle says it's his decision to make. Council also decided to review response times for the next six months to determine if more service enhancement's are needed at the Landing.
Councillors Shawn Lee and Jack Gilroy opposed the first motion which kept status quo at the fire hall. Councillors Buffy Baumbrough and Gilroy opposed the second motion of reviewing the response times for six months. Councillor Patrick Nicol says it's not unexpected that many people won't agree with council's decision.Nichol says council was elected to make the tough decisions and that's what they did.
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