Okanagan-Similkameen regional district opts to renew fire dispatch contract with Kelowna

PENTICTON – The Regional District of Okanagan Similkameen is ready to renew its contract for fire dispatch service, which has been contracted out to the City of Kelowna for the past five years.

Emergency services supervisor Dale Kronebusch says the regional district has been satisfied with the service and its price, recommending to board directors at today’s, Sept. 15, board meeting to exercise the regional district’s option to renew the current agreement for another five years.

Prior to 2011 the service was based in Penticton.

Kronebusch says the contract with the City of Kelowna resulted in $1,826,500 in savings over the five year term when compared to maintaining the service in the city.

The move resulted in considerable controversy in 2011 when the selection of Kelowna as the successful proponent resulted in the closing of dispatch operations in Penticton.

Kronebusch says extending the Kelowna contract for an additional five years will lend some stability to the regional district’s fire departments, which are currently wrestling with new firefighting legislation as well as a new fire telecommunications service.

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