A new Fire Department Master Plan, presented to town council on Monday, says the department is in need of more funding and a full-time fire chief. (File photo)

By Vanessa Broadbent

Osoyoos Times

The Osoyoos Fire Department (OFD) could use more funding and a full-time fire chief, according to a newly completed Fire Department Master Plan.

At their meeting on Monday, town council were presented with the new plan, completed by Response Specialties.

“First and foremost the plan identifies that the Osoyoos community has a lot to be proud of in the operations of the fire department,” CAO Barry Romanko told council.

However, the plan also states that the department is underfunded and suggests several areas of improvement.

“Compared to other fire structures in communities of similar size across B.C., the Osoyoos Fire Department is underfunded. This is especially apparent when referenced against the assessed property values within the community, which are among the highest in the comparator group,” the plan reads.

The plan makes several recommendations, including hiring a full-time fire chief and more on-call firefighters, increasing training hours, integrating an electronic records management system, reviewing fees paid to on-call firefighters, immediately replacing a fire truck and improving fire prevention, fire regulation and bylaw enforcement and education.

• Read more: Firefighting a balancing act for OFD’s first female member

Adopting the recommendations will require an increase to the OFD’s budget. The plan suggests paying a full-time chief $130,000 annually, investing $20,000 in deputy chiefs, contracting out training for $10,000 and an additional $56,000 in increasing paid hours and training new recruits.

The purchase of a new fire truck is estimated to cost between $750,000 and $1 million.

The Town of Osoyoos’ proposed operating budget for 2019 includes an over 20 per cent increase in funds for the OFD to $525,160. The increase will cover $11,950 for training courses, $28,000 in training wages, $75,000 for a new full-time chief, and a new fire truck.

As a result, $22.89 of the $62.74 proposed residential tax increase will go towards fire protection.

As for the OFD’s perks, the plan highlights that the department has positive relationships with nearby departments, and states it is held in high regard by the community and council.

Until 2018, the department reported directly to council, but a recently-adopted fire service bylaw requires it report to the CAO. The change gives the department a real “seat at the table,” the plan states.

The plan also includes a five-year timeline to apply the recommendations.

“This plan is going to be implemented over five years and not all of it today, because otherwise it would be too much of a good thing for us to take on,” mayor Sue McKortoff said.