Regional District of Nanaimo directors are recommending an expenditure of $20,000 in reserve money to pay for installation of better communications equipment for fire departments.
According to a staff report, fire departments in the regional district have complained about radio coverage with FireComm, and between departments, coming from the current radio site on Gabriola Island.
Island Communications proposes installing equipment at Mount Benson, as it said the site is situated at a higher elevation, leading to better communications and pager coverage.
Backup equipment would also be installed on Cottle Hill, allowing other regional district fire departments, such as East Wellington and Lantzville, to make use of the equipment, Island Communications said.
The height of the antenna at the Gabriola Island station is 167 metres above sea level, while Cottle Hill and Mount Benson antennas would be 305 and 1,021 metres, respectively.
Ron Gueulette, Cranberry fire chief, said his department has had communication issues, particularly Cassidy/Waterloo area because it is mountainous. Every department has areas that are considered “dead spots,” he said.
“We man a base station. In some instances, we have to relay messages from our scene to our base station and then back to FireComm, so hopefully when this is all said and done, we can go straight from the scene right to FireComm,” said Gueulette.
The regional district will also provide a letter to Industry Canada endorsing the plan. The City of Nanaimo fire department has also provided endorsement, according to the staff report.
Geoff Garbutt, regional district general manager of strategic and community development, said he doesn’t have a timeline for when it could be approved.
“Because it’s with Industry Canada, we really couldn’t estimate that … with the RDN’s endorsement and the City of Nanaimo’s in the staff report, [it] would help to move the project along,” Garbutt said.
Directors gave preliminary approval at their June 14 meeting and the recommendation will go before the board on June 28 for final approval.
