At one time in our past the Village of Beiseker was part of NERVFA, or the North East Rocky View Fire Association. The association was formed in the very early 1970s to provide fire protection to the village and the surrounding area which had very minimal fire services up to then. A number of years after that, in a spat over control, Beiseker withdrew from NERVFA and went on its own.
I contended then and still contend that a small village the size of Beiseker cannot support the equipment to maintain an independent fire department! Supporting the Beiseker Fire Department (BFD) has cost this village hundreds of thousands of dollars since its breakaway from NERVFA more than 20 years ago! NERVFA has now become part of the County's fire services and I truly believe that Beiseker must rejoin that service!
I have nothing but admiration for the volunteer firefighters of the BFD who attend weekly practices and "make do" with older, used equipment and do a fantastic job! But much of that equipment needs replacement and the village cannot afford that cost.
By becoming part of a larger system again, some of those costs will be spread over a larger base, making equipment replacement, training, and other upgrades more feasible. In this time of regional programs and projects, I think this is a good way to go. All negotiations have centered around the fact that the Beiseker Fire Station and most of the personnel will remain.
If this change takes place, will there be glitches? Yes! But I don't anticipate any problem which a cannot be overcome with level heads and dialogue!
Let me know what you think. Let the Village Office know what you think about this issue.
I have been a FF for BFD for quite sometime now, it is EXTREMELY difficult to just "make do" with the equiptment we have, and even harder to keep members. Tonnes of new members always want to join, but lack of coverage area ( less calls )and Used old equpitment and having the village, coucil and MD pounding on us, has been driving new members away and old members to finally give up ... In the past few years we have stepped it up alot, many of us are extremely close to 1001 certified (5 alreday are). We have alot of young tallent and dedicated members willing to help this community out so much. Im not speaking on behalf of the BFD, but we do need your support. Not asking for your charity or pitty, we just need the village to want us around. We are trying to do more and more for the community beside fire protection, for ect the east egg hunt, pancake breakfst, halloween hauted house, candy cane run and as much as we can to give back to the communtiy..... becuase thats why all 21 of us volunteer at Beiseker Fire and Rescue... To give back to the community.
ReplyDeleteAnd yes joining Rockyview Fire would change the fire hall and town extremly. - of course for the better.
Ray, thank you for informing the village about the status of the Beiseker Fire Dept and for the support you have given the Dept and the Beiseker Fire Dept Assiocition.
ReplyDeleteI find it unneccessary to use such words as "having a spat", if you think that the Fire Department can do things differently, why don't you go and join them and make the change that you seem to feel neccessary to put on the web for everyone to see. Even if you feel that volunteering your time is too much, then you can join the Fire Association to express this fine opinion of yours about the BFD leaving the NERVFA to BFD members that volunteer thier time and get to see your writing comments like this on the internet for everyone to see. Putting negative comments about the past doesn't make anyone want to give a lick of thier time to such an unwanting village member.
ReplyDeleteHey Anonymous@October 14th -- Did you actually read the blog post beyond the first paragraph? Ray praised how the BFD and its volunteers perform, despite their equipment being older.
ReplyDeleteHis entire argument in this post is about the money. He says that it's difficult for a village the size of Beiseker to maintain an independent fire department, much less purchase new & needed equipment.
That's not his opinion. And that's certainly not a negative indicator of the BFD or the folks who volunteer their time. That's just math.
I joined the BFD at the time of the "spat" and although a rookie, I had my doubts splitting from NERVFA was a smart idea? Sadly so-called wiser heads pervailed and split we did...
ReplyDeleteEven back then resources were limited and funds were low; I'm not surprised it has grown worse over time. It is interesting to note that the people who were behind the spat and created the division are long gone, but Ray who spoke out then, is still around. I didn't think then, nor do I think now, that Beiseker is equipped to operate an up-to-date department. We should never have left in the first place and it would be wise to return if we can. Just saying...Just my opinion...