Training cuts a concern for fire chief

by Kelly Hayes & Rachael Kimola -Nov 3, 2009 / 11:00 am CASTANET:

Kelowna's fire chief is hoping to find the funding to save what he calls a core service. An announcement was made in September from the Emergency and Health Services Commission that cut funding for First Responder training programs in this province. Kelowna Fire Chief Rene Blanleil says he has been in conversation with B.C. Fire Chief President Steve Gamble as to what the fire chief association is going to do about the funding cuts. “As far as level of care, it won't (effect the average individual), but as far as cost of providing the program, this was a cost that emergency health services and B.C. Ambulance was funding to have the fire service provide the first responder program,” says Blanleil. He says now that cost is being passed down to the fire department. “So now we have to take that onto our city managers and to council to make everyone aware that this is an additional cost to the fire service in order to continue to provide the first responder program. It's a core service in our opinion. It takes up more than 50% of our call volumes and a tremendous value to our residents.”

Stephen Gamble, FCABC President, says that since 1991, the commission has helped pay to train firefighters through the Paramedic Academy of the Justice Institute in exchange for departments assisting B.C. Ambulance paramedics in their communities. “This withdrawal of funding will hurt pre-hospital care for the residents and visitors to our province and we are going to make the Minister very aware of this.” Gamble says there are close to 350 fire departments in British Columbia and according to a report on pre-hospital care in 2007, almost 200 provided first responder services. The announcement in September withdrew $250,000 from the program effective March 31, 2010, however, the fire service has already felt the effects with the cancellation of some scheduled training.

Earlier this year, City Council was informed that Kelowna would have to pay an additional $70,000 per year to offset the cost of the Police Records Information Management Environment of B.C. (PRIME-BC). Speaking about the budget impact, Mayor Sharon Shepherd said if the RCMP are wanting more members at budget time, "here's a way that budget could potentially be taken away."