A rendering of the proposed Monte Creek Fire Hall. (Photo via TNRD)

The Thompson-Nicola Regional District as awarded a contract for a new fire hall in Monte Creek to West Alliance Construction Ltd., with construction expected to begin later this year.

Work to build the new fire hall at 1257 Hook Road began after residents voted in favour of fire coverage, which took effect in January of last year.

“This is probably going to be one of the highlights of our career, but I know I didn’t have basically nothing to do with the project until it got going,” TNRD Area “L” Director, Doug Haughton said.

“I really wanted to thank [Area “P”] Director [Lee] Morris, former [Area “P”] Director [Mel] Rothenburger, and late chair [and Area “L” Director Ken] Gillis on spearheading this along with the staff to service that area of Area L that doesn’t have any fire protection as well as Lee’s area on the North Side of the river by Lafarge.”

As it stands, the Monte Creek Fire Department operates out of the Pritchard Firehall and provides structural fire protection to 356 properties in Monte Creek, Del Oro, Lafarge, and Barnhartvale.

The $2.25 million project includes construction of a fire hall as well as the purchase of a fire truck, a water tender, and personal protective equipment for firefighters. Nearly half of those costs – $1 million – will be coming via a grant with the TNRD borrowing the remaining $1.25 million over a period of 20 years.

The contract to West Alliance – which recently completed the Loon Lake fire hall and the renovations to the McLure fire hall – has a maximum value of $1,045,000.

“The work and the time that has gone into this project, and we’re almost there,” Morris added, during Thursday’s TNRD meeting. “So yeah, Doug and I are both looking forward to it as well as all of the residents.”

Construction is expected to get underway by October, with the new fire hall slated to be operational by July 1 of next year.

“We’re gradually getting these areas with some form of fire protection,” Haughton added. “It’ll be a great day when we get this project going, and get it staffed and get it full of equipment.”

“I know [TNRD General Manager of Operations] Jamie [Vieira] was saying that the contractor is eager to get to work.”