FILE PHOTO
Image Credit: SUBMITTED/West Kelowna Fire Rescue
August 09, 2017 - 10:12 AM
WEST KELOWNA - West Kelowna Fire Rescue is bolstering its service in the City and Westbank First Nation, in response to this year's extreme fire season.
One full-time firefighter will be added to Station 32, Lakeview Heights Hall, per shift, meaning four firefighters will work each shift instead of the usual three.
For the Glenrosa and Rose Valley fire halls, a dedicated roster of paid-on-call firefighters will be created. One chief officer responsible for “supporting the organization, deployment and command of major responses” will be on-call 24-7, according to a press release.
“These changes have been put in place to help ensure West Kelowna Fire Rescue is best able to address fire threat in the community during these extraordinary circumstances,” read the release.
The increased service is estimated to cost $88,200 and will stay in place until conditions improve.
The response to the extreme fire danger follows similar increases in service in Vernon last week.
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News from © iNFOnews, 2017