FIELD, B.C. – Field Fire & Rescue is a step closer to being operated under the Columbia Shuswap Regional District umbrella amid concerns Parks Canada lacks the expertise and resources to manage a fire department.
Columbia Shuswap Regional District (CSRD) used an alternative approval process rather than a referendum to allow Field residents to submit a form if they were against the proposal to transfer operations from Parks Canada.
“The preliminary results of the alternative approval process for the proposed Field Fire & Rescue services establishment indicated no opposition to the service,” states a CSRD media release after the deadline ended on July 28.
Parks Canada approached the CSRD last year to see if an alternate option could be put in place because of difficulties with maintaining the standards of a modern, paid-on-call fire department in Yoho National Park.
Under the plan, Field residents can expect the same level of fire protection service currently offered by the Field fire department; however as is currently the case, there is still no road rescue as part of the department’s role.
There would be no new taxation for the service to residents because all operational and capital costs of providing the fire and rescue service will be paid to the CSRD through a financial contribution agreement with Parks Canada.
Under the alternative approval process, legislation sets out that if at least 10 per cent of the electors in the proposed service area record their opposition to a proposal, the plan must either proceed to referendum or be abandoned.
In the case of Field, 14 valid responses would have been needed to prevent the board from taking over operations from Parks Canada.
“The number of valid elector response forms received by the CSRD in opposition to the service was zero,” according to a CSRD news release.
The CSRD board will now discuss the results and next steps at a board meeting on Aug. 21.
In 2020, Parks Canada and Field Fire & Rescue were in a deadlock in contract negotiations, including a call for a full-time fire chief, with the fire department opting out of providing road rescue services, but continuing with fire suppression for Yoho National Park in 2021.
The fire department was dealing with a growing number of emergency calls on the Trans-Canada Highway with increasing visitation, as well as a greater burden of liability, time demands and administrative requirements to operate a fire department.
The stalemate reached a head after serious accidents on the highway west of Field in October 2020 resulted in men trapped inside their trucks for several hours, pointing to the urgency of having this issue resolved sooner rather than later.
In 2022, Parks Canada struck a deal with neighbouring Lake Louise and Golden fire departments for road rescue services on the national transportation corridor in Yoho National Park, with Field fire department only attending structure fires.
