City reconsiders fire response

Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star Published: March 20, 2011 1:00 AM
Vernon firefighters may ultimately respond to emergencies in rural parts of the Commonage. City and North Okanagan Regional District officials will meet April 6 to discuss possible expansion of Vernon’s fire service to 98 properties along Commonage Road, Bailey Road and Highway 97.  “They’ve had a change of heart,” said director Mike Gavinchuk of the city, which had previously turned down a request to enter into a fee-for-service contract.  The properties are part of the Area B electoral area, and residents have been demanding fire protection.  The city had expressed concerns about liability and fire trucks not being able to access some roads because of rural standards.  “We’ve had further discussions with director Gavinchuk and we will hold a meeting to see what they are looking at for service,” said Mayor Wayne Lippert. “We’re not agreeing to it at this point, but we are exploring it.” Lippert points out that the city’s plans include a fire hall at Predator Ridge and that could benefit residents in the Commonage. “We’re trying to work together to serve all of our citizens,” he said. Gavinchuk insists his constituents need to know some critical information before considering entering into a contract with Vernon.  “We don’t know what the cost is for service,” he said.  The only other option for providing fire service to the Commonage is the BX-Swan Lake Fire Department, but response times could exceed 20 minutes.  Insurance companies do not recognize an area beyond eight kilometres from a fire hall as having protection. Given that the shortest distance from the BX fire hall to the Commonage is 13 kilometres, a reduction in insurance premiums is not anticipated.  As a result of the April 6 meeting, the regional district has held off on sending a survey out to Commonage residents about fire protection.
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March 20, 2011 1:00 AM Morning Star EDITORIAL: Vernon must extend service
Hopefully common sense will prevail over fire protection in the Commonage.  The City of Vernon is indicating it will investigate possibly entering into a contract to provide fire protection to 98 properties outside of its boundaries. This comes just three months after council vetoed the concept.  Ultimately, it makes sense for Vernon firefighters to tackle blazes in the Commonage portion of electoral Area B.
One, they drive past many of these properties to reach the Commonage portions in the city, and particularly Predator Ridge. Two, quick action may keep a fire from spreading and threatening homes within Vernon.  The properties along Commonage Road, Bailey Road and Highway 97 are part of the city’s ultimate boundary plans, and sharing a service may foster that future relationship further. It has been previously explained that Vernon can’t send its firefighters into Area B because of liability. However, that issue could be addressed if a contract insists the North Okanagan Regional District is responsible for any liabilities that arise within its area.  Coun. Jack Gilroy has expressed concern that Vernon fire trucks could be put at risk because roads in the rural Commonage don’t meet city standards. But Gilroy should realize that not all roads in Vernon meet city standards.  Commonage residents aren’t looking for anything free. They are willing to pay for the service as long as the cost is reasonable. They just want to ensure the investment they have made in their homes is protected.  And in the end, it is the protection of life and property that should be the priority, and not where the border is.