Revelstoke fire services in CSRD issue: A primer to get you up to speed

Looking to get up to date on the fire services agreement controversy? Here’s our need-to-know primer to get you up to speed. This is in broad brush strokes; lots has been left out.

Time is winding down quickly for the City of Revelstoke and the Columbia Shuswap Regional District to negotiate a new fire suppression services agreement for the parts of the CSRD Electoral Area B (Area B) nearby Revelstoke, such as South Revelstoke and the Begbie Bench that are currently served by the fire department. Negotiations have become heated over the past several months and the CSRD has filed an injunction seeking to continue the existing service past Dec. 31.

1. A brief history of the fire suppression services agreement between the city and CSRD Area B:

-The current Electoral Area B (South Revelstoke) fire suppression agreement was initiated between the City of Revelstoke and the Columbia Shuswap Regional in 1980. It has remained unchanged since that time.

-Through this agreement fire services from the City of Revelstoke are provided to approximately 250 properties located in Electoral Area B.

-In 2015 the CSRD and the City of Revelstoke to review and update the existing agreement. The negotiations took their first steps in early 2016.

-During a December, 2016 city council meeting, council passed a resolution to give official notice to the CSRD Board of Directors that they intended to terminate the existing Area B Fire Suppression Agreement on Dec. 31, 2017.

-The Revelstoke fire chief sent the CSRD a new draft Fire Protection Agreement for Area B in March, 2017.

2. The City of Revelstoke is asking the CSRD to commit to the following in order to update the existing agreement:

-Purchase of a fire tender — a tanker truck that carries water.

-a specialized truck and equipment for calls to BC Hydro draw-down lands

-The need for new funding agreement. Currently, the proposed agreement is based on 110% of hospital converted value of land and improvements in the rural service area.

3. The city and the CSRD have been unable to come to an agreement. They’ve traded barbs in the media over the past few months.

-Some points have been worked through. Outside funding was found for the draw-down area vehicle, for example.

-On September 25, 2017, the City of Revelstoke sent a letter to the CSRD lawyer stating if an agreement was not made (including a water tender) by Dec. 31 the city would no longer provide fire services to the CSRD.

-CSRD Area B Director wrote a letter to local media on Nov 1.

-City of Revelstoke councillors responded to the letter on Nov. 3.

4. If the two sides cannot come to an agreement by Dec. 31, 2017, fire services in Area B could stop.

5. What’s next?

-On Nov. 16 the CSRD board authorized Charles Hamilton, CSRD chief administrative officer, to seek legal council to seek an injunction to require fire services in Area B continue through Dec. 31, 2018. The CSRD will be in court on Dec. 18 to present their case.

-Beyond Dec. 18 the future is unknown, with several scenarios possible. The timeline between Dec. 18 and Dec. 31, over the holidays, is very tight for the two boards to reach an agreement. There is a possibility that fire services could end on Dec. 31 for the Area B neighbourhoods around the city that are currently served. This would impact safety for residents and businesses, and it would also impact their insurance terms and costs.

What’s your take on the dispute over the agreement? Share your thoughts in the comments below.