By Sam Borsato - @BorsatoSam on Twitter

Maintaining response times critical factor in deciding fire department CIP projects

Jan 23, 2017 | 4:52 PM

LETHBRIDGE – An additional west side fire station and replacing the one on the south side could be up for funding in Lethbridge’s 2018-2027 Capital Improvement Program (CIP).
 
Fire Chief Rich Hildebrand discussed both recommendations and the new fire master plan with city council, sitting as the finance committee at the time, at Monday’s (Jan. 23) meeting. He noted during his presentations that each project is critical to maintaining the optimal ten minute response time as the city’s population continues to grow and demographics change.
 
That response time goal includes the capacity for 12 to 15 firefighters to manage a fire in a typical single-family home, Hildebrand stated. That sort of depth requires response from three fire stations at this time.
 
While it’s difficult to discuss exact numbers right now, he estimated that each of the buildings could cost upwards of $9-million.
 
“There’s no question that the capital costs to build both of these stations is enormous,” Hildebrand said. “I completely respect the difficult decisions [council] has to make. We will continue to support and provide whatever service we can regardless… We do know that it is a lot of money.”
 
According to Hildebrand, the current west side station, situated along Whoop Up Drive, has remained the same size with five firefighters and paramedics per shift since it was opened in 1980. But over the past 40 years, west Lethbridge’s population has jumped from just 4,000 to nearly 40,000.
 
An additional station, proposed for the southern end of the west side, would provide better response times to areas, like Paradise Canyon, that have now developed beyond the department’s ten minute response capability. It would also provide additional resources in the event of limited bridge access, that would make it difficult for other stations to respond.
 
“The replacement of [the south] station becomes really important in terms of how we deploy in the future. Can we continue to either add staff or add new equipment to that fire station,” Hildebrand continued.
 
“Today, we can’t. We just don’t have the capacity. In fact, there are some fire trucks already that actually won’t fit in the front door of number three station. So, it does limit how we use our resources.” He added that the new building would also make for a more timely response to any wildland fires in Lethbridge’s southern most end.
 
The fire master plan, which is a “20 year plan to guide capital and operating investments” set to be released publicly later in 2017, proposes that the existing, 53-year old building be transformed into a backup 911 call centre and radio shop, as well, after the replacement building is complete.
 
Both options will come before council this May when they deliberate what projects to include in the upcoming CIP.