Residents of an area south of Coldstream are seeking fire protection.
Regional District of North Okanagan administration will investigate whether the Vernon or Coldstream fire departments could be contracted to provide service to 38 properties located between the Kalamalka Lake lookout and Kekuli Bay Provincial Park.
“By going to both, there may be a mutual aid agreement,” said Bob Fleming, regional director for the area.
A grass fire in 2012 was tackled by the B.C. Forest Service and local firefighters, but when a house is ablaze, there is no help because the neighbourhood is outside of fire protection boundaries.
“If a house catches fire, it has to spread to the grassland and be a threat to the surrounding area (Coldstream) before there is a response,” said Dave Facey, a resident of Kalamalka Estates.
“If a house is on fire, we can’t call 911 and get the fire department to respond. We are prepared to take on additional cost to have our area protected.”
