The Ainsworth-Woodbury area will receive fire protection thanks to a mutual aid agreement between the Kaslo and Balfour/Harrop fire departments.
The regional district endorsed the agreement last week, which will see the Village of Kaslo pay the Balfour/Harrop department $11,800 for their assistance.
The village decided not to renew an interim agreement to cover the area, which expired at the end of last year. It was signed with the expectation a satellite hall would be built in Ainsworth or Woodbury, but a consultant’s report suggested the expense wasn’t justified.
Kaslo is still exploring becoming a regional fire service and building a new hall.
The lack of formalized fire protection in the Ainsworth area came to the fore following a couple of high-profile fires that destroyed heritage buildings.