The Regional District of Nanaimo Electoral Areas Services Committee endorsed the proposed mutual fire aid involving the Coombs-Hilliers Fire Department and the City of Port Alberni.
The proposed agreement was first discussed at the EASC meeting on March 6 but was deferred due to concerns raised by Electoral Area F (Coombs, Hilliers, Errington, Whiskey Creek, Meadowood) director Leanne Salter.
The matter was again presented at the EASC meeting on April 3 and this time the recommendation, with some amendments, was passed by the committee to be forwarded to the RDN board for approval.
The agreement, which will be similar to the comprehensive long-standing mutual aid and automatic aid between the nine fire departments in District 69, will allow the Coombs-Hilliers Fire Department to attend major emergency incidents along the Alberni Highway corridor only if the incident commander determines there is a specific need for additional resources.
Salter recommended an amendment to section 2.2 of the agreement, asking the term be for two years only and may be renegotiated at that time. Either party, she added, may terminate their participation in the agreement with 60 days written notice to all parties.
"The reason I want to go two years on this is because, as most of you know, we're working on incorporation and when that happens, there will be some significant changes to the Coombs Fire Department, providing they're part of the incorporation," said Salter. "And at that time, it will be a decision that should be made by a council not by me sitting here now."
The committee voted in favour of the agreement with Electoral Area B (Gabriola, DeCourcy, Mudge Islands) director Vanessa Craig opposed.
The Town of Qualicum Beach has also entered a mutual aid agreement with the City of Port Alberni.
