Firefighting dispute puts lives at risk, Onoway-area resident says

At least one resident in the County of Lac St. Annenorthwest of Edmonton says a long-simmering dispute between the town and the surrounding county is putting people's lives and homes at risk.

The town, along with Village of Alberta Beach and seven other small resort villages, havecontracted a private firefighting company this year to respond to fires, vehicle crashes and medical emergencies within their borders.

However, the County of Lac St. Anne has not agreed to the standard mutual aid agreement allowing fire departments to respond to fires outside of their jurisdiction.

That means one side of a street in Onoway will be serviced by Northwest Fire Rescue and Training, while the other side will be served by the county's volunteer firefighters.

Neither can help out the other even if the emergency is closer to one fire hall than the other.

"If there was a fire on the wrong side of that road we would be prohibited from responding and rendering aid," said Northwest chief Dave Ives. "It would be most unfortunate if someone were to suffer a loss."

Area resident Joe Blakeman said that puts people's lives at risk.

"It doesn't only jeopardize people in other municipalities, but I think it jeopardizes people in Lac St. Anne County simply because response times and fire halls are further apart.

"Without mutual aid agreement, it makes it very difficult."

He said the dispute will forcehomeowners topay more forhomeinsurance.

Onoway town manager Wendy Wildman said the townsplit with the county fire department after it decided to move the fire hall out of Onowaywithout consulting the town and proposed to hikefirefighting costs by nearlyhalf.

"In the end, the decision was made with the belief we would receive an equal or better service for the same or lower cost as we paid in 2014, by going with Northwest as opposed to the county," she said in an email to CBC.

Since then, the county advised the town it will "definitely not consider a mutual aid agreement."

Wildman said the county told the town it "may still consider a one-way aide agreement, whereby the county would come into Onoway and assist Northwest should our community need it, but only if we provide them with a copy of the contract between the town and Northwest."

She said the dispute is not the best scenario for allcommunities concerned.

"The best thing for our communities would be that both of these fire services are able to respond to their communities when called, and have the backup and support of the other when needed."

County officials would not comment.