Sparwood renews Upper Elk fire agreement
Sparwood council approved a new five-year fire protection services agreement with the Regional District of East Kootenay during a special meeting on May 26.
The agreement covers the period from January 1, 2026, to December 31, 2030 and allows the District of Sparwood to continue providing fire protection services to a defined area of Electoral Area A outside municipal boundaries.
Director of Fire Services Sheldon Tennant said the agreement followed negotiations between district staff and the RDEK after the previous agreement was extended for one year through 2025.
“The purpose of this report is to seek Council’s authorization for the district’s borrowed to enter into a new five-year agreement with the RDEK covering the period from January 1, 2026, to December 31, 2030,” Tennant said during the meeting.
The agreement includes a shift to a fee for service model with annual increases tied to Sparwood’s operating budget. It also includes updated service area boundaries, an initial annual payment of $88,000 starting in 2026 and a new provision for the RDEK to contribute five per cent toward major future fire hall projects.
Under the previous agreement, the RDEK contributed $160,000 toward Fire Hall No. 2. Tennant said the new arrangement creates a more consistent approach for future capital projects by tying contributions to actual project costs.
One of the main changes is the removal of Highway 43 from the defined fire protection service area. Tennant said the change was negotiated because motor vehicle accident responses were not being compensated under the previous structure.
Councillor Jason Christensen asked where the fire service boundary would now end. Christensen is listed as a councillor on the District of Sparwood CivicWeb members page, along with Acting Mayor Amy Cardozo and councillors Sam Atwal and Steve Kallies, who also spoke during the meeting.
“Our service boundary would stop at the end of Lodgepole,” Tennant said.
He said the Savory subdivision on the west side of the highway and the area on the east side of the highway to Chatterson Road would remain in the fire protection area, but Highway 43 itself would not.
Christensen asked how people involved in incidents on Highway 43 would be served under the new model.
“Going forward, we would still continue to provide the service. The cost recovery would come from the provincial program from emergency climate and readiness,” Tennant said.
Tennant said the agreement would not change staffing levels. Sparwood Fire Services will continue to rely on paid on call firefighters, though he said there will be additional administrative work related to task numbers and cost recovery.
Council was given three options. It could approve the agreement, request changes and return to negotiations or reject the agreement. Staff recommended approval, saying the agreement-maintained service continuity, provided predictable funding and clarified boundaries.
Acting Mayor Amy Cardozo said the RDEK board had already supported the agreement.
“Good job to you and your team negotiating this contract. It’s great. The RDEK did unanimously vote in favour of it. It’s a great contract, so thank you for that,” Cardozo said.
Council voted in favour of authorizing the acting mayor and corporate officer to execute the Upper Elk Valley Fire Protection Service Agreement with the Regional District of East Kootenay.