Image: Adam Donnelly / CFJC Today

By Dylana Kneeshaw

MONTE CREEK FIRE PROTECTION

Volunteer firefighter recruitment to begin next month for new Monte Creek protection zone

Jun 22, 2022 | 5:01 PM

MONTE CREEK — After residents living in two electoral areas of the TNRD voted their approval last month, a new fire hall and protection zone is going to be established for Monte Creek.

It’s been years in the making, but the referendum passed, money is available and officials say they’re going to begin ordering equipment. While efforts to recruit volunteer firefighters for the new hall will also begin next month.

Marc Coray is the chief of the Pritchard Volunteer Fire Department, and is glad to see the protection zone approved.

“Hopefully this generates more interest and eventually it’d be great to see every community and small settlement have some kind of fire protection,” said Coray.

Sound Off

SOUND OFF: Gleaning Abundance Program adapting to climate change

40m ago

Week in Review

Week in Review: Week of May 13

May 18, 2024

Two and Out

PETERS: Connor Ingram shows even in hockey culture, it's okay to ask for help

May 17, 2024

After a wildfire burned in the Monte Creek area in 2019, Electoral Area L director Ken Gillis says local resident Ed Herman had told the TNRD he would donate an acre of land near Dallas Drive and Hook Road for a fire hall to be established. A house fire unfortunately claimed Herman’s life in the summer of 2021, but the hall he was pushing for is going to be built.

“His (Ed’s) family I will say agreed to carry out that wish on his behalf after his tragic death, and so that’s why we’ve been able to go ahead with it,” explains Gillis. “If we had to go and buy that property outright, I don’t think that the project would have gotten off the ground at all.”

Heading toward the end of his tenure on the TNRD Board, Gillis adds that he feels particularly proud to have been a part of the establishment process, which will also be honouring Ed Herman’s wishes.

The Monte Creek Volunteer Fire Department will be a satellite hall working in conjunction with the existing Pritchard department, which Coray says gives both zones more resources for large scale events.

“This will bring in two more trucks — a pumper and a tender for a total of seven vehicles, and more manpower,” explains Coray. “If it is a big event then we have the backup and availability to respond.”

Gillis says about 356 properties that were previously unprotected will now be included in the new zone. A $1 million grant will reduce the price tag, but the cost to get the hall up and running is estimated around $1.2 million. Operational costs will then be handled through service area taxation.

“I think, for almost everybody, the increase in taxes will be more than offset by the decrease in their fire insurance premiums,” adds Gillis.

A recruitment drive for volunteer firefighters will be held on July 23 from 10:00 a.m to 2:00 p.m at the Pritchard fire hall, aiming to have a roster in place by early fall for training to begin.

“Initially, we want 15 volunteers to start training and getting the ball rolling, and hopefully it’ll spread from there,” says Coray.