Fire protection on agenda for upcoming meeting

By Roger Knox - Vernon Morning Star  Published: November 04, 2010 6:00 PM

Three communities have mutually agreed to talk mutual aid when it comes to fire protection. Okanagan Indian Band officials will meet with representatives from Spallumcheen and Armstrong Wednesday to discuss a possible mutual aid agreement for fire protection.  There is currently no agreement in place, and Spallumcheen Mayor Will Hansma brought up the topic in light of members of the Armstrong-Spallumcheen Fire Department helping out with several recent fires on band land.  “Without having any joint programs in place, this is putting our fire department in a stressful situation to respond,” said Hansma. “I’m quite concerned about the liability aspects, and it puts an unnecessary risk on the residents of Spallumcheen and Armstrong, and risk for our firefighters.”  Armstrong-Spallumcheen firefighters were called in for backup to help OKIB members battle a pair of cabin fires on Fred Road Oct. 29. They also helped battle a fire on Westside Road that destroyed four homes this summer.  “I’ve had this discussion with my council, we’ve agreed we should have a mutual agreement in palce and we’re moving forward,” said OKIB Chief Fabian Alexis.“We under the liabilities aspect of it, and a mutual aid agreement would entail that. Our resources are very limited. Our fire hall is not that big and we realize we need to work on that.”