Oak Bay Mayor Nils Jensen plans to add a little fire to the CRD board meeting on Wednesday.

The CRD Planning and Protective Services Committee agreed to seek more definition and specifics on costing models for a single regional fire dispatch service after seeing a report from staff during its March 28 meeting.

The report came about after a heated debate during the CRD board meeting in December. At that time the board agreed to gather information on establishing a single regional fire dispatch centre a notion put forward by Jensen.

B次元官网网址淚t met with a little bit of resistance but in the end we got a report,B次元官网网址� Jensen said.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 unanimous we should continue to examine the costs of a single call centre in the CRD and for all the right reasons,B次元官网网址� Jensen said, adding the concept has support of the regions fire chiefs, and early indications show up to 20 per cent cost savings.

B次元官网网址淢ost importantly itB次元官网网址檚 the safety factor. ItB次元官网网址檚 what should be driving us all,B次元官网网址� Jensen said.

He points to the closest fire engine response agreement between Oak Bay and Saanich fire departments as a key example. Dispatch automatically sends the closest aid when a call comes in.

B次元官网网址淭hat ensures we get there in the fastest time possible. That should be the goal throughout the CRD. We donB次元官网网址檛 have that protocol with Victoria for instance,B次元官网网址� Jensen said.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 seamless it decreases the response time and therefore itB次元官网网址檚 a great safety measure. If you have a fractured and multiple dispatches you canB次元官网网址檛 do that. ItB次元官网网址檚 not possible to dispatch the closest fire engine in the same way. ThatB次元官网网址檚 the primary reason we should move a single dispatch system in the CRD.B次元官网网址�

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Jensen intends to bring it to the CRD board April 11 seeking similar agreement to further explore a single call centre scenario.

B次元官网网址淥ne barrier right now that weB次元官网网址檙e going to have to face is that five communities, their contracts are about to expire with Saanich,B次元官网网址� Jensen said.

Earlier this month, Colwood, Esquimalt, View Royal, North Saanich and Sidney announced plans to contract fire dispatch services from Surrey rather than Saanich as per their current agreement. The five communities started to search for alternatives in late 2017 and early 2018, after Saanich announced it would double its charge in the face of financial pressures. The District of Saanich says it can no longer afford to subsidize service to smaller municipalities.

Oak Bay is also considering options as its contract expires at the end of 2018.

Jensen plans to propose those contracts be extended to allow to find a single CRD dispatch solution.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 confident we will, but we will need some time,B次元官网网址� Jensen said. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 hoping when communities see the advantages to the single dispatch centre we can get extended contracts to get full analysis of the advantages and costs.B次元官网网址�

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