Landing Firefighters Start Petition

Written by Peter McIntyre  107.5 KISSFM Friday, 19 October 2012 13:24
There continues to be resistance to Vernon council's move to merge volunteer firefighters in Okanagan Landing, with Vernon-Fire Rescue. However, Vernon's mayor says there's no plans to revisit the decision. The president of the Landing volunteers, Todd Montgomery, says based on the support they've got, they've started a petition aimed at keeping their group the way it is. The document can be accessed on their web site, their Facebook page, and at an open house Sunday at the Landing fire hall from 11 to 3. Mayor Rob Sawatzky isn't sure what the Landing volunteers want. "It's been made very clear repeatedly to them that they're all invited to apply to the integrated training unit, and once they pass their training, they can serve out at the Landing only, if that's what they choose," he tells Kiss FM. Sawatzky says the group can also continue as a community association, and use their paid on-call fees any way they want. "We've made considerable attempts to provide storage for their barbecues and the things they like to do out there, with a shed." Sawatzky says regardless of how many signatures are gathered, the city still plans to cancel the group's contract at the end of January, saying it will create a one chief model with standardized training. "It (petition) wouldn't change the facts which we based our decision." Council made the decision at an in-camera 4-3 vote in July. In a statement on its website, the OKLVFA says it's been operating under its current volunteer structure since its inception in 1975. "During that time the OKLVFA has successfully responded to thousands of incidents under a fully volunteer structure. In its 37 years of continuous operation, management of the hall; from recruitment and training, to equipment and building maintenance and repairs has been completed by volunteers at minimal cost to the tax payer. The OKLVFA is a cornerstone of the community with a rich history and culture. Founded and built by volunteers, the Okanagan Landing Fire Station is a part of who we are and what our organization represents. Council's vote to not renew the OKLVFA contract is a decision that our membership cannot comprehend," says the website.