Naramata has recently agreed to expand its fire protection coverage area to include over 90 properties.
On Oct. 6, 2016 the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen adopted Bylaw No. 2733, 2016 Naramata Fire Prevention and Suppression Local Service Establishment Amendment. The bylaw incorporates all remaining properties located within the existing service area that were not included in the original service and additionally, the service has expanded to include several properties in the North Naramata Road, Glenfir Road, Chute Lake Road and Indian Rock Road areas.
“The Naramata Volunteer Fire Department, along with RDOS staff, have worked diligently to make the expansion of fire protection and first response services available to the residents of Indian Rock and Glenfir,” said RDOS Electoral Area E director Karla Kozakevich. “I feel it is extremely important that we offer these services to as many residents of Area E as possible. I am very proud of our team of volunteer fire fighters and medical first responders.”
The Naramata Volunteer Fire Department has provided 61 years of invaluable service to the community and will continue with the expansion north. Plans are underway to construct a secondary fire station in the Chute Lake Road area to support the recent expansion. The new facility will house appropriate fire fighting vehicles and equipment which will better enable fire crews to respond in a timely manner to incidents in the area.
With the expanded fire protection service comes a medical first response program. The Naramata Fire Department maintains a roster of trained and certified medical first responders who can perform patient care for the public until the arrival of the ambulance. The expansion of the Naramata Fire Protection service area assists the Regional District with its desire to create a socially sustainable community by providing critical life and property saving services to its residents.