Photo: Google Maps

A new report suggest a Glenmore firehall should be situated in the heavily populated area around Glenmore and Watson roads.

Glenmore will get a new firehall.

The issues remain where, and when.

An analysis of firefighting needs in Kelowna, produced by Darkhorse Analytics, is at odds with a preferred location outlined a year ago by the Kelowna Fire Department.

The analysis, which will be presented to city council Monday afternoon, suggests the best place for a future new hall is in the densely-populated Glenmore and Watson Road area.

The fire department originally suggested placing a new firehall closer to area around John Hindle Drive.

The analysis indicates at new hall in the Watson Road area would greatly improve response times for both medical first response and fire call as opposed to a Hindle Drive location.

The report also looked at the overall performance and issues facing the fire department.

In concluded one of the biggest challenges is the rapid increase in service calls. Over the past three years, service calls have increased 10 per cent each year, reaching more than 11,400 in 2016.

Sixty-five per cent of those calls are medical first response. About half of all fire calls are minor while another 40 per cent are for alarms.

In the Glenmore area, a majority of first response calls come from two addresses, Sandalwood Retirement Resort and Highlands Retirement Residence.

The report also suggests the downtown hall would be better situated closer to Harvey and Richter while the Mission hall will eventually need to be split with one in the Pandosy area and the other in the Upper Mission.