Port Colborne to discuss rural fire station

The possibility of a rural fire station is once again up for discussion at Port Colborne council on Monday.

On Friday, Port Colborne Fire and Emergency Services Chief Tom Cartwright didn’t have much to say about the report coming before council since he wanted to give council the opportunity to ask questions on Monday evening, but did say council has a difficult decision to make.

Conversations about a rural station came to council last year after a survey from the Fire Underwriters, an organization which evaluates risk areas in municipalities, highlighted the potential need for a second station.

While the fire station on Killaly Street West provides coverage to the majority of the city, there were concerns about the up to 12-minute response time to, the Killaly Street West station being over the ideal seven-kilometre travel distance from and, in many cases, lack of municipal water supply in Port Colborne’s rural areas.

Council requested Cartwright write a report about potential costs for a second station, a location, public interest in volunteer firefighters that would operate out of that station and the potential of automatic aid from Fort Erie.

His report, which came back to council in November, estimated a new station, its equipment and any costs of staff would be $1.6 million. Recommended areas for the station included Second Concession and White Road or the Cedar Bay area, which would provide better coverage to areas such as Sherkston and Gasline as well.

At the time, council said the findings would be discussed at a future meeting.

For Monday’s meeting, Cartwright has provided another report, which further explored the location options, volunteer numbers and automatic aid with Fort Erie.

The report indicates council suggested the idea of renting out a space to help alleviate costs. A building in the Gasline area has been visited and the property owner is willing to enter into a long-term lease agreement. The building will need modification to become a functional fire hall.

Cartwright wrote in the report, however, that the site is not ideal.

“The potential site is not ideally located as it does not provide the remaining all-encompassing area coverage for the rural requirements,” the report states.

The report continues, stating that volunteer interest was also low and up to this time conversations have not been had with Fort Erie about automatic aid. Despite the town’s interest, changes in Fort Erie Department staffing has delayed any talks about it.

The report lists council’s options as being keeping things the way they are with the one station, further investigating the possibility of a second station, setting funding aside for a second station, continuing to explore automatic aid, or, what has been listed as the recommended option, a combination of the first three options.

Port Colborne’s council meeting takes place at city hall on Monday beginning at 6:30 p.m. lbarton@postmedia.com Twitter: @LBartonTribune