
Photo: Don Pattie Memorial Fire Hall, 2020 (Supplied: TNRD)
Residents in the Cariboo community of 70 Mile House are set to hear the details about a fee-for-service fire department later this month.
70 Mile Fire Department Association Chair Dennis Huber says the “new” concept they are offering residents, is to pay into the property protection membership, which is estimated to cost $400 per property/per year.
He says it would mean those who subscribe to the membership, will be the only ones protected if a fire breaks out.
“We will show up and protect your house, your neighbour’s house can burn down,” said Huber.
“If you don’t pay, you wont get fire coverage or protection if a fire breaks out.”
Huber explains under specific terms and conditions, the fire department would fight a fire on a property that is not part of the protection services, but it would come with a minimum price tag of $4,000, which would have to be agreed upon at the scene of the blaze.
“The terms and conditions are $1,000 per truck, per hour, and a minimum of two hours and two trucks,” stated Huber.
“So we will fight it but that is the carrot and the stick routine; the carrot is pay now and we will (fight the fire) no questions asked and if you don’t pay, here is how we will fight it if it comes to you.”
With that, Huber says those who choose not to pay for fire protection services could also have issues with getting fire insurance on their home.
“We will let the insurance company know who is on our protected list and who is not. So, if there are any savings – if you’re not on the protection list – you won’t get them.”
Huber says residents in 70 Mile House will decide on November 15 if they want to go ahead with the fee-for-service property protection.
“We’re giving them two choices; either we go with this or, we shut the firehall down because we can’t afford to run without money.”
The fee-for-service fire protection model comes after 70 Mile residents rejected an offer from the Thompson Nicola Regional District for tax-paid fire services, as it would have come with a substantial hike to property taxes in the community.