Rocky View County council unanimously approved a controversial Fire Services Bylaw in three readings, March 27.
About 15 Rocky View firefighters, both employed and recently dismissed, were on hand for the decision.
Craig Macdonald, president of the Alberta Fire Fighterís Association, said the bylaw represents a step backwards for the Countyís Fire Services department.
ìIn Rocky View, we have clearly taken a step backward,î said Macdonald. ìWhen you drop from six personnel per station to five it has to impact the responsibility of the station.î
Rocky Viewís new bylaw outlines the fire departmentís responsibilities, expectations and levels of service, which are equivalent to the National Fire Protection Agencyís (NFPA) rural standards. Those standards call for six firefighters to be on scene within 14 minutes, something Rocky View Fire Chief Ken McMullen said would be difficult for the County to meet given the size and density of the municipality.
ìIt is doubtful we will be able to meet (the rural standard),î said McMullen. ìBut that is also true of 80 per cent of fire departments.î
McMullen said departments serving communities of less than 500 people per square mile strive to meet the rural NFPA standards. However, Rocky View has an overall density of 25 people per square mile.
Macdonald said while Rocky Viewís population may be sparse, there are a number of higher-populated areas within the municipality that may not be served at a suitable standard, like Balzac, Langdon, Bearspaw and Springbank.
ìThere are high-risk areas within the municipality,î said Macdonald.
McMullen told council service levels in the county would not change, despite the municipalityís recent dismissal of 17 firefighters.
Macdonald argued that service levels have diminished since the layoffs, as there are now five firefighters on duty at stations instead of six.
ìIt is a direct reduction of service levels,î said Macdonald. ìThe municipality has to make that choiceÖ but the public might not like that decision.î
Macdonald is concerned there has been no community consultation about the changes.
The bylaw also includes a section that prohibits fireworks within Rocky View unless a permit is purchased.
For more information on the fireworks permit, visit www.rockyview.ca
