In areas where the Regional District of Nanaimo does not have fire services coverage, the B.C. Wildfire Service will be there to do the job.
The regional district has an agreement with the B.C. Wildfire Service to provide firefighting services in locations not served by local fire departments.
The areas include the Little Qualicum River Regional Park, Mount Arrowsmith Massif Regional Park, Horne Lake Regional Park, Wildwood Community Park, Illusion Lake Community Park, Benson Creek Falls Regional Park, Mount Benson Regional Park, Kipp Road Community Park, Nanaimo River Canyon Community Park, Sea Fern Lake Community Park, Link Bay Road Community Park, Dunlop Lane Community Park, Dunlop-Flewett Community Trail, Cardale Road 2 Community Park and Dodd Narrows Community Park.
“If there was to be a fire, there’s no fire rescue and fire department to respond to that,” said Tom Osborne, RDN general manager of recreation and parks. “So that’s where coastal fire and the wildfire team comes in to then cover the fire.”
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The total area of the lands within the agreement that B.C. Wildfire Service would cover is 1,769 hectares. The RDN pays the B.C. Wildfire Service an annual fee of $1,200.
With more people visiting and using the parks, the risk of wildfires is predicted to increase as climate change affects snow, rainfall patterns and forest health.
“This ensures that there is a response,” said Osborne. “You’re not paying for helicopters, you’re not paying for the fire crews. So, for $1,200, you get a provincial response to a very large holding of land in the regional district.”
The agreement, valid until March 31, 2025, needed to be amended to include the recently acquired Westwood Ridges, added to Mount Benson Regional Park.
The agreement was presented and approved by the RDN board during its regular meeting on Feb. 13.