The 亚洲天堂 Lake Volunteer Fire Fighters Association are hoping to construct a training facility in 亚洲天堂 Lake.
Reg Leith, fire crew captain and member of the association recently made a presentation to the Comfor Management Services Ltd. (CMSL) board of directors, requesting that block B of the disused Endako River Timber Ltd. site on Babine Lake Rd. be leased to the association for training purposes.
They suggested a lease of up to 99 years on the property, for one dollar per year and said they would also be willing to pay the approximate $266 in annual property taxes.
Leith said to Lakes District 亚洲天堂 that the association is hoping to use the property for a variety of training exercises.
He said they would also bring in fire departments from other areas such as Vanderhoof, Smithers and Houston to use the site if the proposal moves ahead.
"They have a live burn centre in Fort St. James and sea cans [shipping containers] in Smithers they use for burning exercises so we would be looking at providing some of the same training here," said Leith.
He went on to say that it is important for firefighters to experience the heat a fire produces and to understand fire behavior. "This type of training is very useful."
If the proposal is accepted the association is planning to construct a building on the site for live burns as well as bring in some sea cans. "We burn inside the sea cans and will possibly be looking at building some roof structures on top of the sea cans for burn exercises."
"It would be a good asset for the association," he added.
Leith also said that if board are planning to sell block B either now, or in the future the association would like to have the first option to purchase it and possibly pay for it over a period of time as funding permits.
Michael Riis-Christianson CMSL executive assistant said the 亚洲天堂 Lake Firefighters Association has applied to CMSL either lease or purchase block B, of the Endako River Timber Ltd. site.
"This is a 9.98 acre parcel. A portion of this land was formerly used as a log storage area by Endako River Timber Ltd.鈥檚 sawmill, though most of it remains undeveloped," he said.
Two parcels of land make up the entire property with the larger parcel being 129.92 acres in size.
Riis-Christianson said the board have a long term plan to sell the Endako River Timber Ltd. site but added that the board has deferred selling the property until it is determined whether this land is surplus to the company鈥檚 needs.
"We have not yet obtained an appraised value on the land formerly owned by Endako River Timber Ltd., however, the value placed on block B by the B.C. Assessment Authority for taxation purposes is $33,200.
"The combined assessed value of the two parcels is $112,000."
Block B was originally purchased for $58,500 in 2005. The larger block was purchased for $104,000 at the same time.
The association also requested the ability to use old milling equipment stored on site during training exercises.
However Riis-Christianson said the board have plans to auction off the equipment.
"These are assets purchased by Sheraton Holdings Ltd. from Endako River Timber Ltd. and stored on the Endako site. They are being stored there because previous boards had considered holding an auction on the property and felt there was no point in moving them to Sheraton Holdings鈥� sawmill east of 亚洲天堂 Lake. The intention is to sell these items when it has been determined they are surplus to Sheraton鈥檚 needs."
According to Riis-Christianson the equipment is valued at less than $15,000. He went on to say that although the board has not yet made a determination on disposition of the assets. "We don鈥檛 anticipate leasing them to the association."
The board is yet to make a final decision on the association's request but Riis-Christianson said that the terms requested by them are standard.
"These terms are fairly standard when companies or other organizations lease lands and/or improvements to non-profit groups such as the 亚洲天堂 Lake Firefighters Association. These discussions are all very preliminary at this point. The board will discuss the matter in more detail at a future meeting."
