qathet Regional District (qRD) board directors will consider a recommendation not to renew an agreement between Powell River Fire Rescue (PRFR) and Malaspina Volunteer Fire Department (MVFD).
At the December 9 committee of the whole meeting, directors considered not renewing the automatic aid agreement, which is set to expire on December 21.
According to a staff report, the current agreement provides for the automatic dispatching of PRFR to first responder events in the MVFD service area, including Nootka Street, Myrtle Avenue, Claridge Road, and Tanner and Covey streets. The agreement also calls for the automatic dispatch of MVFD to the following areas within the municipal boundary: Myrtle Avenue, Claridge Road and Powell River Airport.
The staff report stated that renewing the automatic aid agreement would result in the MVFD budget bearing the associated PRFR response costs, which could be significant, according to the report.
At the meeting, qRD manager of emergency services Ryan Thoms said that with the automatic aid agreement, the fire departments are dispatched immediately upon receiving a 911 call. He said the mutual aid agreement the fire departments have in place is triggered by the responding department asking for assistance from other departments. So, if assistance from another department is required, the one attending the scene can call for backup.
City director George Doubt said his understanding is that up until now, City of Powell River has been providing these services free of charge and that there would be a charge if there is a new agreement.
Thoms said neither party in his time as manager has submitted costs to the other party for services rendered under the existing agreement.
