Battleford town councillor Ames Leslie said Monday an agreement has been made with the Rural Municipality of Battle River that will see the Battleford Fire Department responding to emergencies such as extrications and motor vehicle accidents in 2014.
As of Dec. 31, the North Battleford Fire Department will no longer respond to those emergencies as it has done in the past.
Mayor Derek Mahon said the Town of Battleford chose not to accept a new proposal by North Battleford Fire Department because the Town has its own equipment, and has had for some time.
"We've got the equipment and the training. We might as well use it," said Leslie, who is also a member of the volunteer fire department.
The Town will also continue to respond to fires in the RM of Battle River.
"In the 13 years I've been in the fire department, we've always covered fire suppression in the RM," he said. Now, extraction and motor vehicle accidents will be added to their service.
Mayor Mahon said there is a mutual aid agreement between the Town and the City of North Battleford regarding assistance with fire suppression, but very few times has the City ever had to come to Battleford. The fire at Government House was one, he noted. That was because Battleford doesn't have a ladder truck.
That is the only piece of equipment North Battleford has that Battleford doesn't, he said.
"We've always indicated we're very comfortable with the services they [the Battleford Fire Department] provide," said Mahon. "Certainly our fire department is second to none."
North Battleford Fire Department recently announced it is no longer going to be responding to rescue emergencies outside the city of North Battleford or the RM of North Battleford.
Battleford is not the only jurisdiction that decided not to accept a new arrangement with North Battleford. As of Dec. 31, NBFD will no longer respond to rescue emergencies for the RM of Battle River, RM of Mayfield, RM of Cut Knife, RM of Meota, Red Pheasant Cree Nation, Moosomin First Nation, Sweetgrass Cree Nation, resort village of Aquadeo, resort village of Cochin, village of Meota, town of Cut Knife and the town of Battleford.
NBFD met with rescue services stakeholders Oct. 15 to explore the possibility of modifications to original agreements in order to reach a balance for cost recovery. But the proposal was not widely accepted, says NBFD chief, Albert Headrick.
In a letter to Battleford Town Council, Headrick said the department appreciated the Town's consideration of its proposal and respects its opinion not to continue.
"We appreciate your understanding on this decision," he wrote.
