(Image credit: B.C. Fire Training Officers Association).

By Aaron Schulze

Monte Creek Fire Department

TNRD and Pritchard Fire Department hosting volunteer firefighter open house for Monte Creek

Jul 18, 2022 | 10:22 AM

KAMLOOPS — The Thompson-Nicola Regional District (TNRD) is inviting residents to attend an upcoming open house to learn more about becoming a volunteer firefighter for the Monte Creek area.

The open house – hosted by the Pritchard Fire Department – on Saturday (July 23) from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. will be at the Pritchard Fire Hall at 4289 Harrison Rd.

In a referendum in May, most eligible residents in Monte Creek, Del Oro and Lafarge voted in favour of establishing fire protection and constructing a new fire hall. The new fire protection service will serve 356 properties in Electoral Area “L” (Grasslands) and Electoral Area “P” (Rivers and the Peaks). Construction of a new fire hall in Monte Creek is anticipated to begin in 2023.

“Now that residents have voted in favour of establishing fire protection services in the Monte Creek area, we wanted to begin the recruitment process as soon as we could. Also, training a roster of new recruits is a process that will take several months to meet the provincial minimum standard,” Jason Tomlin, TNRD fire protection services manager says.

The vote came nearly one year after a house fire along Hook Road in Monte Creek took a man’s life. The Pritchard Volunteer Fire Department responded to that fire, but only after obtaining permission from the TNRD as the location was outside of its jurisdiction.

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The TNRD says no previous experience is necessary to become a volunteer firefighter, and adults of all ages, genders and backgrounds are welcome to join. Volunteer firefighters train to professional standards, and are paid per call for their response, training and practices. All required personal protective equipment is provided and there are no out-of-pocket costs.

Volunteer firefighters must:

• have a valid driver’s license
• be at least 18 years of age
• be physically able to perform tasks and duties of the job
• undergo a criminal record check
• be able to commit to training for two hours per week at their local fire hall
• live, or work, in the fire response area