Fire calls may leave Vernon

Photo: Darren Handschuh

Those 911 calls to Vernon Fire Rescue could be leaving the city.

City council has authorized the fire service to look at the cost of contracting out those services through a request for proposals (RFP) to see if an alternative delivery model could reduce costs and provide a more robust service.

Currently, the cost of stand-alone dispatch services in Vernon is $549,355 per year.

According to a city press release, anticipated savings as a result of contracting services are approximately $250,000 per year.

“Our dispatchers are providing excellent support to our department and the community,” said David Lind, interim fire chief. “This decision to investigate contracted services in no way reflects on their skill or the work they do.”

Vernon fire dispatch currently has one dispatch operator working at all times.

The concern provided by the city is that in large scale and large call volume events, both the dispatcher and dispatch centre can be overwhelmed and could leave the organization and the community at risk as a result of system failures and delayed call processing or dispatching.

Larger centres typically have two or more staff assigned on a 24/7 basis.

Calls for service to other nearby fire departments used to go through Vernon dispatch until other North Okanagan communities opted to use Fraser Valley regional fire dispatch centre as a cheaper option.

The practice of contracting out dispatch services has been growing, including in Salmon Arm and Penticton.

“No decision has been made at this point,” said Lind. “An RFP process will provide us with the information needed to properly assess the potential reduction in costs and risk.”