When you call 911 to report a fire you expect firefighters to arrive as soon as possible - but for residents in some parts of the 樱桃视频Valley, there is no guarantee that help will be dispatched.
People living at Ring Creek, the Upper Paradise Valley and the Upper 樱桃视频Valley live outside the boundaries of the District of 樱桃视频(DOS) and are governed by the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District (SLRD), which currently does not have a fire protection agreement with the District. 樱桃视频Fire Rescue has to get permission to respond to structure fires in the SLRD. And, if there is a fire incident in 樱桃视频at the same time a fire is burning outside the DOS boundary, the emergency in 樱桃视频takes a higher priority.
The Jan. 11 fire that destroyed a home at Mile 10.5 of 樱桃视频Valley Road put this issue front and centre for people living outside the DOS. 樱桃视频Fire Rescue (SFR) responded to the blaze but only after firefighters consulted with the DOS chief administrative officer.
CAO Kim Anema gave SFR the green light to attend the fire despite the fact that the DOS is not obligated to fight fires at Tantalus Way. John Turner, the SLRD representative for the area, is thankful that Anema gave SFR permission to respond.
The lack of fire protection for residents living in the SLRD doesn't sit well with Sam Stoddart, who lives across the street from the house that burned down. He used water from his well pumped through his own forest fire hose to keep the flames from spreading to other homes in the area.
Even before the fire at his neighbour's house, Stoddart had started collecting signatures from neighbours wishing to have a fire protection agreement with the DOS.
The only SLRD neighbourhood with a fire protection agreement is Furry Creek, while Britannia Beach has its own fire department.
Turner and 樱桃视频Mayor Ian Sutherland both recognize that there should be better protection for the SLRD residents.
"We're talking with the SLRD about having a proper servicing agreement for events like that [the Jan. 11 fire]," said Sutherland. "We both want a policy moving forward."
"What I've proposed to the residents there [Upper Squamish, Paradise Valley and Ring Creek] is to find out what is the cost of getting into the dance," Turner said. "They are interested in the service as long as it is affordable. We want an approximation of how much it will cost."
Turner noted that the cost of services might be comparable to the savings residents will realize in reduced insurance costs.
While the status-quo remains SFR will continue to seek permission to attend fires in the SLRD at a cost to the DOS as incidents occur in the rural areas.
