By Dene Moore
The Thompson-Nicola Regional District has abandoned plans for taking over fire protection in 70 Mile House after funding from the district for the current volunteeer department ends at the start of next year.
The district made it clear residents soundly rejected the option during a public consultation process.
“The TNRD will not be moving forward with a formal public assent process to establish a new fire protection service in 70 Mile House,” the district said in a statement released Oct. 19.
In 2018 the TNRD voted to cease funding for all fire services not administered by the district itself, effective Dec. 21, 2022. That included 70 Mile House, which is in the district’s coverage area. Of the six departments operating independently within the TNRD at the time, only 70 Mile’s fire department declined to transition into TNRD administration.
A feasibility study for the 70 Mile House Volunteer Fire Department was completed last summer examining capital requirements and operating budgets if the TNRD were to take over administration.
The district held a public meeting in September to present the results of that study and information on the proposed TNRD fire service, which would have been funded through property taxes collected in the area.
The next step would have been a public assent process but the district decided not to proceed, “in response to input received during public consultation.”
Of the 30 people who responded to the survey, 26 own property and live in the area; four own property there but have a primary residence elsewhere. There are between 300 to 400 people who live in the 70 Mile House area.
Twenty-three of the 30 said the 70 Mile House Volunteer Fire Department Association should continue to administer the department with no TNRD involvement, collecting annual membership fees to cover operating costs. Only five people wanted a referendum and two people said they don’t want to pay for fire protection at all and understand that fire protection will likely end in that case.
“It’s an ineffective money grab - my house will burn to the ground long before any fire truck gets here,” one local resident commented, according to the feasibility study. “I currently pay 49 per cent of my wages in taxes, now you want more.”
“My family has been ‘here’ since the horse and buggy,” another commented. “We had no need for the TNRD then, we made it this far and we sure as hell don’t need your hand in our pockets now.”
Two of the 30 respondents said they were willing to be volunteer firefighters.
Dennis Huber, the chair of the 70 Mile House Volunteer Firefighters Association board, said he wasn’t surprised by the community’s choice to reject the TNRD’s proposal. He said the regional district “went nuts” on the proposed tax hike to continue to provide the department funding.
“They kind of all wished the TNRD would fly south and never fly north again,” Huber said with a chuckle.
Huber said over the last few months the association has been meeting with the Watch Lake-North Green Lake Volunteer Fire Department, which is also independently funded. Using their model as a template, the association has drawn up a new constitution that will provide them the funding they need.
Basically, every property owner who pays into the association will pay a set rate every year for fire protection. Huber said property owners will have the option to opt out of this system and, if they do, the department will not fight a fire on their property.
“We have positive vibes coming out of the community saying they’re going to go with it,” Huber said. “It’s going to save money for the community members and keep the fire department going.”
How much each property owner will pay will depend on how many people buy into the program. Right now Huber said they have 140 properties in the area so if 80 per cent buy in - 115 - they would divide their operating costs by 115 and charge accordingly.
Whatever the cost, Huber said it will be a quarter of what the TNRD was asking. On Huber’s own property, he said his fire assessment fee would have gone from $312 to $1,280 under the TNRD’s proposal.
“What we’re talking about would range somewhere from $350 to $450 per annum, depending on budgeting and what the community is prepared to accept,” Huber said. “We’ll be doing a five-year plan and maybe five years out the fee may need to increase.”
The department currently has eight fully trained members and three members in training with the help of the South Green Lake Volunteer Fire Department. Under their new plan, Huber said they’ll have enough money in the bank to purchase a “new-to-us” fire engine within five years, while their turnout gear will last for seven years.
“We have everything required right now. It’s just planning for the future and that’s what we’re looking to do with our budgeting process,” Huber said.
Last year, the district provided the 70 Mile House Volunteer Firefighters Association a $30,000 grant-in-aid to operate through this year. That was a one-time extension. Funding from the TNRD for firefighting services in the area will end at the end of this year, the TNRD said.
The entire 70 Mile House community is invited to attend a meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 15, where the association will present details of the funding plan.
With files from Patrick Davies.
