Penticton Fire Department expands fire protection to more Carmi residents

PENTICTON – Penticton city council has approved expanding fire protection for residents in the Upper Carmi neighbourhood.

Council unanimously agreed to expand the service from the 8 kilometre mark from fire station 202 to the 11.5 kilometre mark on Carmi Road.

Council orginally approved expansion of the regional district fire protection agreement in March.

Penticton Fire Department chief Larry Watkinson told council at its regular meeting yesterday, May 24, the expansion of service will be good for the department and the City, adding $44,000 in additional revenue without overtaxing the existing fire service.

Watkinson said Upper Carmi residents will benefit from reduced house insurance premiums.

Coun. Andre Martin asked about a review period for the service. Watkinson said it would be looked at every three years, with resident’s contributions based on their property’s assessed values.

Coun. Helena Konanz expressed reluctance to enter the service without assurance Carmi residents would pay for the entire service, not wishing Penticton residents to be subsidizing.

“The fire department is getting so incredibly expensive, how much will they be paying compared to Penticton residents?" Konanz said. She expressed reluctance to enter the service without assurance Carmi residents would pay for the entire service, not wishing Penticton residents to be subsidizing.

Watkinson said he believed the funding formula would see Carmi residents paying more than Penticton residents for similar service, telling her he would get back to her with exact figures.

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