The City of Campbell River’s fire department will continue on as the emergency fire dispatch provider for northern Vancouver Island and Powell River.
The North Island 911 Corporation and the City of Campbell River recently signed a five-year, fixed contract agreement which means fire emergency calls made to 911 will be routed through Campbell River’s fire department.
The City of Campbell River has been providing fire dispatch services to approximately 50 local fire departments within the North Island since the inception of North Island 911 in 1995.
“The City of Campbell River has created positive synergies between the local fire departments and fire dispatch, covering a vast geographical area of approximately 60,000 square kilometres,” said Coun. Larry Samson who is also the president of North Island 911. “Having a fixed contract in place for the next five years ensures stable costs and continued effective service delivery to our residents.”
Ron Neufeld, the city’s deputy manager and general manager of operations, said it is in the city’s best interest to continue providing fire dispatch.
“The City of Campbell River acknowledges the value of maintaining these highly-skilled jobs in our community, and we appreciate the good working relationship with the North Island 911 Corporation over the last 21 years,” Neufeld said.
The North Island 911 Corporation provides emergency dispatch services to the Comox Valley Regional District, the Strathcona Regional District and the regional districts of Mount Waddington (North Island), Powell River (excluding Lasqueti Island) and Alberni-Clayoquot, as well as a portion of the Nanaimo Regional District (School District 69).
RCMP dispatch is handled in Courtenay while ambulance service is run out of Victoria.
