Image Credit: Kent Simmonds / CFJC Today

By Dylana Kneeshaw

RURAL FIRE RESPONSE

In the wake of deadly fire, TNRD to renew probe into fire protection options for Monte Creek area

Jun 10, 2021 | 4:20 PM

KAMLOOPS — After a deadly house fire in the Monte Creek area Tuesday evening (June 8), the Thompson-Nicola Regional District says it will continue to ask residents if they want to bring in a fire hall for that no-protection zone.

Kamloops RCMP stated Wednesday (June 9) it is believed one person perished in the incident, but the identity of that individual has not been officially confirmed.

TNRD Board Chair and Electoral Area “L” (Grasslands) Director Ken Gillis says establishing new fire protection has been approached before.

“It’s sad that it took this situation to really focus the public’s attention on just how desperately we do need fire protection, not just in Monte Creek but in areas like that.”

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The Monte Creek area is one of several zones within the Thompson-Nicola that does not fall within designated fire hall jurisdiction. Gillis says generally when a fire breaks out on these properties, responding firefighters will call the TNRD on the drive over to the fire to finalize permission.

When asked if this process adds significant time to a fire-response, Gillis admits it’s not ideal for determining who is responding but notes the permission is more of a formality. He can’t recall a time it hasn’t been granted immediately.

“As long as there is equipment and personnel left to attend to anything in their own area, we do permit them generally to leave their jurisdiction in an emergency like we had in Monte Creek on Tuesday.”

Gillis says a common reality many rural property owners face is lower taxes, higher fire insurance premiums, and next to no fire hall protection. Over the past several months, the TNRD has met with residents between the Lafarge and Monte Creek junctions about bringing in fire protection to reduce rising fire insurance costs.

In fact, Gillis says one of the owners of the property that burned had offered to provide an acre of land is a hall could be established.

“With that, we looked at the possibility of establishing a new fire department. But of course the cost of establishing a free-standing fire department now has become so astronomically high that there wasn’t a sufficient tax base to support it.”

After initial assessments to expand fire protection, Gillis says it will be less expensive to build a satellite hall in Monte Creek to work in conjunction with the existing fire hall in Pritchard.

“We’re thinking in the $800,000 range (for cost),” notes Gillis, “Perhaps now with the increased cost of construction that I’m sure everyone has heard of, it might exceed that.”

The expanded Pritchard protection zone would include the majority of areas on either side of the river between Lafarge bridge and the Monte Creek Winery.

The TNRD says an informal survey on the topic will be conducted this summer. Should residents and affected parties be in favour of a new fire service area, Gillis estimates a fire hall could be established for the Monte Creek area by 2024.