FIREFIGHTING BOATS
Burnaby will be looking to Vancouver to managing its marine firefighting services from now on.
Burnaby council passed a motion on Dec. 3 to end its agreement with the Port of Vancouver to moor a fire boat in the city, and instead become a customer of the City of Vancouver's marine firefighting services.
Vancouver is proposing an option where it would own and operate two to three fire boats via a long-term agreement with Port Metro Vancouver, and Burnaby would pay a fee for the fire boat services as required.
Burnaby's fire chief, Shaun Redmond, suggested the move in a report to council, based on the infrequent use of Burnaby's fire boat - responding to approximately three minor incidents per year during the past seven years - and the cost of maintaining it.
The fire department also has two small Zodiac boats on hand to respond to minor incidents, the report added.
FIRE CHANGES
False alarms will cost Burnaby residents, with changes made to the city's
fire service bylaws.
Burnaby council approved the changes at the Dec. 3 council meeting.
If the Burnaby Fire Department responds to a third repeated false alarm call within a year, it will result in a $100 fee to the owner of the property.
For four or more responses to false alarms within a year, the charge will be $200 per incident.
The fees were suggested in a report from the city's fire chief, Shaun Redmond.
Council also approved a $250 fee for fireworks-selling permits; two fees for fire safety plan reviews - $150 for new construction and $300 for high buildings - as well as a $500 fee for fire investigations where damage is in excess of $5,000.
2013 MEETINGS
The schedule for next year's council meetings has been set. Burnaby council approved the schedule, along with schedules for public hearings and committee meetings, at the Dec. 3 council meeting.
The first two council meetings of 2013 will take place on Jan. 14 and 28.
The dates for council meetings, public hearings, boards' and committees' meetings will be posted on burnaby.ca.
