KELOWNA – The Kelowna Fire Department (KFD) will soon have 20 more firefighters and another fire hall.
It’s the first time the KFD has added firefighters since 2000, when they employed an additional 12. The most recent staff increase is part of the KFD’s 2030 Strategic Plan. Kelowna Fire Chief Jeff Carlisle believes the KFD’s emergency response rate is two minutes higher than its goal.
“We need to increase our response capacity, to address that response time of 9 minutes and 30 seconds to 7 minutes and 40 seconds,” he said.
Also on the horizon is a new fire station for the North Glenmore area. Carlisle predicts the region’s population will grow rapidly in the next decade.
The expansion is expected to come at an annual budget increase for the KFD of 3.1 million dollars over the next 14 years. Carlisle says it’s essential.
“When you have a house fire, or you have a motor vehicle accident, or you have a hazardous material spill, or your son or daughter is trapped on a cliff, or there’s a forest fire encroaching on your property, I would say you’d want the fire crew to get there with the resources they need, as quickly as possible.”
The City of Kelowna appears to agree. Council approved the Strategic Plan on Monday.
“Making sure our community is healthy and safe is a priority for Council, and this plan sets a clear course to maintain efficient and financially sustainable fire protection for years to come,” said Mayor Colin Basran in a press release.
The firefighters will be hired in two groups, with 12 joining in 2017, and 8 more in 2019.