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Formal West Creston fire protection a step closer

Area C director Larry Binks has received RDCK approval on a petition to tax residents at 69 cents/$1,000 of assessed property value...
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BC Hydro donated $5

West Creston appears to be inching closer to having a formal fire protection service.

Area C director Larry Binks said on Monday that he has just received Regional District of Central Kootenay approval on the wording for a petition that, if successful, will tax residents at a rate of 69 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value.

Binks said he plans to go door-to-door to collect signatures.

“I don’t see this is as a political issue,” he said. “I think the people of my area deserve fire protection and I’m doing everything I can to make that happen.”

Meanwhile, the West Creston Fire Protection Society, a volunteer group, continues to collect funds to build a fire hall. Negotiations are underway to acquire one of several building sites under consideration, Binks said.

The area has been without a building since a storm two years ago destroyed the structure that housed a fire truck.

On May 28, society president Jim McLeod and operations director Ed Teague accepted a $5,000 contribution from BC Hydro.

“We recognize the importance of building a new facility that will allow quick and effective access to safety equipment needed to respond to emergency urban wild land interface fires as efficiently as possible,” said Diane Tammen, BC Hydro community relations manager, as she handed over the cheque.

A new building will incorporate energy efficient, cost effective fixtures including energy efficient lighting, a high efficiency heat pump system for heating and cooling, and high performance window installations.

McLeod said the society is ready to begin construction as soon as a building site is acquired, possibly as early as this summer.