After hearing that there was no ambulance service in Castlegar on either Christmas or New Year's, councillor Russ Hearne put forward a motion to invoice the B.C. Ambulance Service (BCAS) for the expenses incurred by the Castlegar Fire Department that filled in for five emergency calls during that time.
"On Christmas day and New Year's day there was no ambulance service in the city of Castlegar," said Hearne. "There was no staff available to man the ambulances. Our Fire Department, first responders, were required to attend I believe it was five calls in order to help people in need."
The motion was passed unanimously, with all five councillors voting yes.
It was my opinion that these were unnecessary costs incurred upon the city. We pay our volunteers when they go out and the cost of the vehicles," said Hearne. "So I think it's only fair that they (BCAS) should cover the costs that we incurred."
Hearne said it is unacceptable that Castlegar should be left without service at such a busy time.
"I don't know all the particulars about how B.C. Ambulance regulates their schedule, but it should come as a shock to the people in the community that we didn't have ambulance service available on those days," said Hearne. "We need to make sure the residents of this area have that service available at all times."
Mayor Lawrence Chernoff, a former ambulance attendant himself, said he has been in talks with BCAS.
"There are part-time people that choose when they want to work," he said, regarding the ambulance attendants. "There's also cross-coverage where there is coverage from other communities for our community. There was a lack of communication. Whatever the mix ups were, we've made a request to B.C. ambulance to find out what that was and why those issues took place. It's an ongoing issue. The shortage of personnel is one thing."
Chernoff said the city is working hard to improve ambulance service for the area.
"We're having ongoing discussions with B.C. Ambulance to improve things here," he said. "We feel it's very important to have good ambulance service here."