Residents seek fire protection

Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star Published: November 24, 2009 7:00 PM

An Okanagan Landing neighbourhood is demanding enhanced fire protection. The Lakeview Estates Community Association is calling on the City of Vernon to construct a satellite fire hall in the Bella Vista area. “The city is not meeting its mandate to people living at Canadian Lakeview Estates,” said Isabel Furtado, association president, who has presented a 271-name petition to council. Currently, Canadian Lakeview Estates — at the end of Tronson Road — is served by the Okanagan Landing fire hall on Okanagan Landing Road. “Due to the distance and the logistics of the volunteer process, we do not have adequate service,” said Furtado, who believes the current response time is 20 minutes. She says a satellite hall would serve all Bella Vista neighbourhoods including the Rise and the Tavistock properties. “All citizens of Vernon have the right to essential services,” she said, adding that all residents are levied the same when it comes to fire taxes.

In terms of whether a satellite hall should be volunteer or operated by full-time, unionized firefighters, Furtado said it should be staffed “as appropriately as possible.” Ed Forslund, Okanagan Landing fire chief, believes there is a need to look at the request. “It’s a long distance to travel out there,” he said. “There would be an improvement to the fire service if there was a satellite hall but it depends on what taxpayers are willing to pay and is it justified based on call-outs.” Forslund also says there are limited locations along Tronson Road where a hall could be placed. “If you build it by the Rise, how much time would they (CLE) gain?” he said. A service review developed by Vernon fire chief Jeff Carlisle proposed a hall in the Bella Vista area. “The footprint of the city is challenging to provide an equitable level of service,” he said. Coun. Mary-Jo O’Keefe admits it takes some time for firefighters to get to Canadian Lakeview Estates.“When they bought property out there, I’m sure the residents knew that but there is a responsibility for the city to look at it,” she said of safety concerns.