Firefighters consider future with Vernon

By Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star Published: August 17, 2012 1:00 AM
Uncertainty over Okanagan Landing’s firefighters continues. Members of the Okanagan Landing Firefighters Association were supposed to meet with Vernon city administration Tuesday. But that session was scrapped after the city provided information in writing. “It’s been e-mailed out to the membership and we’re still learning what the model means,” said Todd Montgomery, association president. The city recently decided not to renew a fire service agreement with the association to provide firefighting services in the Landing. All members of the Landing association have been invited to join the Vernon Volunteer Firefighters Association, which operates out of the downtown hall. “There’s still a lot of disappointment,” said Montgomery. Landing firefighters will gather Aug. 21 to discuss the new structure. “After next week, there will be some individual decisions and some association decisions,” said Montgomery. “We will see what the feeling is among the members. We could do a media campaign to get our views out to the public or we could decide to join.” Keith Green, Vernon’s fire chief, says the city provided information this week after a series of questions were received from the Landing group. “They’re going to take time to digest the answers and it will probably lead to more questions,” he said. “We’re happy to answer those as well.” Among the issues raised are the ability of the firefighters to still operate out of the Landing hall and to have access to a workshop they constructed on the site. “They brought some legitimate concerns forward and we’re trying to address some of the unknowns,” said Green. If a large number of Landing members don’t accept the new model, that could lead to a shortage of firefighters. “We have a contingency plan in place if that occurs but I hope that’s not the case,” said Green. “I hope that by working with them, we will get many of them to work under the new model.” The Okanagan Landing Firefighters Association was formed in 1975 and it has provided a service to the city since Okanagan Landing joined Vernon in 1993.