BC Regional District Explores Recovering Fire Response Costs from Insurers
The Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen (RDOS) is considering a new bylaw that would enable it to recover costs associated with fire responses from insurance companies. The proposal, which received its first three readings at a recent board meeting, aims to recoup expenses incurred when local fire departments respond to residential structure fires.
According to Jim Zaffino, RDOS chief administrative officer, the bylaw would allow the district to recover eligible costs through homeowners’ or tenants’ insurance policies. “The cost recovery would be filed against the insurance companies of homeowners or tenants where a fire takes place,” Zaffino explained. “There are real expenses when responding to fires, and more fires increase the risk of fire departments going over budget.”
A Vancouver-based firm would be contracted to manage the claims process, receiving 30% of recovered funds as compensation. Zaffino noted that similar systems are already in place in other parts of Canada and that the RDOS would not be billing property owners directly.
The concept has received support from several board members. Princeton Mayor Spencer Coyne, who also sits on the board, said he had advocated for such a policy in his community for several years. Director Matt Taylor voiced support but questioned how the policy would apply in cases where the property is not insured. “If there’s no insurance, there’s no claim,” Zaffino responded.
Not all directors were in agreement with the approach. Summerland Director Richard Barkwill questioned the involvement of a third-party firm, asking why the district couldn’t simply send a bill to the homeowner, who could then pass it on to their insurance company.
Zaffino mentioned that the formula for calculating recoverable costs would be determined by insurance companies and the contracted adjuster. He also expressed interest in bringing the matter back to the Union of British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM) with support from other municipalities, having raised the issue at past UBCM conferences without seeing significant progress.
The RDOS, with approximately 20,000 residents and 10,000 properties, believes it could still recover a meaningful amount under the proposed system. The bylaw is currently under consideration, with further discussions expected as the district weighs the potential benefits and challenges of the proposed cost recovery system.
