File photo (Image credit: CFJC Today).

By Aaron Schulze

Fire Protection

TNRD and City of Merritt agree to five-year extension for area structural fire protection services

Jun 19, 2024 | 11:32 AM

MERRITT, B.C. — Hundreds of properties in the Lower Nicola region now have long-term certainty with structural fire protection.

The Thompson-Nicola Regional District (TNRD) announced Wednesday (June 19) it entered into a five-year contract with the City of Merritt for providing fire protection services in portions of Electoral Areas “M” (Beautiful Nicola Valley – North) and “N” (Beautiful Nicola Valley – South). The five-year contract was approved by Merritt council on April 23 and by the TNRD Board on May 16.

In a news release issued Wednesday, the TNRD says the fire protection service area includes 772 registered addresses in Lower Nicola, Miller Estates, the north end of Coldwater Road and areas east of Merritt including Nicola Ranch and Harmon Estates.

The five-year deal comes two years after the TNRD and City of Merritt struck a deal to restore fire protection services for 76 per cent of properties within the Lower Nicola that had service pulled. The TNRD originally suspended fire protection services for those properties after determining their contracted partner, the Lower Nicola Indian Band, didn’t have the personnel to cover the area.

Colton Davies, TNRD communications manager, says there are no changes to properties within the fire protection service area, meaning properties in Canford and further southwest are still without structural fire protection.

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“That’s a challenge for people who are outside the area, especially when they had fire protection service previously,” Davies told CFJC Today. “This is a contracted agreement with the TNRD — it’s not a TNRD-owned and operated fire service. We’re at the mercy of what our contracted partners are able to provide in terms of distance from their hall. If it’s within the appetite of the residents, there’s always the long-term potential for adding additional fire protection, whether that’s through a satellite hall and a TNRD department for different areas. Of course, that usually comes with a larger cost, but that typically means protection in areas that wouldn’t otherwise have it

In 2024, the TNRD says affected property owners will pay $48.28 per $100,000 of assessed value for fire protection. The TNRD says the tax rate is a 16 per cent decrease compared to 2023 for affected property owners.