A new fire protection service for residents in portions of Electoral Areas C and E in the St. Mary Lake and Wycliffe areas will not proceed after eligible electors voted not to establish the service.

“While the outcome of the vote was not to proceed, I’ve heard from many people who used this process to check in with their insurers and who learned more about their insurance coverage, so that is an unanticipated positive to come out of it,” said Regional District of East Kootenay (RDEK) Board Chair and Electoral Area C Director Rob Gay.

The results have now been officially declared by the Chief Election Officer. There were 183 valid ballots cast in the Kimberley Rural Fire Protection Service Assent Vote and the results are as follows:

• YES: 63;
• NO: 120.

“The request for us to look into this service came from residents of the proposed service area and I am grateful to everyone for taking part in the process and casting their ballots. Our role is to provide details on what a proposed service would look like and cost, and give electors the opportunity to decide. In this case, they were not in favour of moving forward with the proposal and it will not proceed,” said Electoral Area E Director Jane Walter.

“I want to extend our appreciation to the RDEK and City of Kimberley staff who spent so much time putting together the details of the service to present to the community for consideration.”

The proposed Kimberley Rural Fire Protection Service would have seen the Kimberley Fire Department’s fleet increase by one tender and expand to include full coverage by the department to properties within a portion of the St. Mary Lake Road and Wycliffe areas that are 13 km from the fire hall.

e-KNOW file photo

RDEK

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