New News:

New regulations that shrink the size of legal campfires will come into effect July 1 to reduce the risk of human-caused wildfires, Forests and Range Minister Pat Bell announced today. "As we head into peak camping season, I want to remind people that more than 850 fires resulted from careless human behaviour in 2009. That number must come down," said Bell. "We want people to enjoy the great outdoors, but not at the cost of public safety."

Under the new regulations, campfires cannot be larger 0.5 metres in height and 0.5 metres in diameter, or approximately a foot-and-a-half by a foot-and-a-half. Previously, campfires were permitted to a maximum size of one-metre by one-metre.  Read the full press release from the Ministry of Forests and Ranges.

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Old News:

New Highways Act Regulations Information

The New Highways Act Regulation took effect June 1st.   This has been on the news so this is simply a reminder, as it applies to our fire trucks and firefighters as well.  This new law in B.C. applies to anyone driving who comes upon a scene of an incident or an emergency vehicle travelling to or from a scene.  Here is the linked News Release of these changes intended to protect the safety of responders and citizens alike.    http://www2.news.gov.bc.ca/news_releases_2005-2009/2009PSSG0041-000675.htm  

Effective December 17th, 2008 our Fire Chief, Joe Simoes has resigned from the AMFD.  John Nett has been appointed as Interim Fire Chief until a permanent replacement can be found.  Here is the text of Joe's resignation speech given at the annual Anarchist Mountain Christmas Pot Luck on December 21st, 2008:

Good evening, and Merry Christmas. 

Firstly, I want to say it has been an honor and privilege to have served the people of Anarchist Mountain for the past five and half years.  This part of serving as your Fire Chief has been most rewarding.   It has also been a pleasure and humbling experience leading the men and women of the fire department who put their lives on the line when they are called to duty.  I have strived to provide them with the best training, tools and equipment.  That’s one part of my job.

The last three years, however, have very challenging dealing with the RDOS – our Regional District, and this has been another part of my job.  The RDOS and I have been clashing on a number of issues ever since the referendum. 

As Fire Chief, I take very seriously my responsibility to be accountable and prudent with your tax money and assets.  I look upon this fire hall as your fire hall, your fire trucks and your fire department and I am the Trustee.

The RDOS has, unfortunately, a different opinion - they look at this has their hall, their equipment, their money and their trucks, and us, the firefighters, as their employees.

This culture is so deeply embedded that I have been knocking my head against it trying to make them understand that this is not their property - that it belongs to you, the tax payers. – that the RDOS holds the same position as me - simply the trustee,  and as such, the RDOS needs to be accountable to me and you with how your money and assets are used.

The process of accountability outlined at a meeting of Irvin and I and RDOS administrative staff following the referendum led us to believe the process would be the policy followed by the RDOS, but this turned out to be a farce.

As a result, I have often questioned statement lines on my budget printouts.  Recently, I have been questioning the use of your money and what I have determined as wrong information, and last Wednesday, after many failed attempts to get financial information so I can cross-check and hold the RDOS accountable for your tax dollars, the clash has now filtered down into the operations of the FD, and because I am concerned that the implications of a lack of accountability could affect the safety of my members, as of Thursday, I have formally resigned in protest, and have appointed an interim Fire Chief.

This was the most traumatic decision that I have ever made in my life - one that I am convinced is necessary for the future of the department.

(I will introduce John and take out chiefs bars and place them on his shirt, I then will introduce the rest of the leadership team.  I will ask the rest of the firefighters to stand, and pledge my support to them, and ask everyone to welcome John in his new position.  I will ask all the firefighters and residents to support the leadership team as they grapple with the transition.

No doubt you may have a number of questions.  Let me say this:

If you wish to help the FD and yourselves, the best way to influence a politician is by public opinion,  so write letters to the newspapers, call the radio and television stations and let them know the money the RDOS uses is not their  personal money that never runs out.   It belongs to the tax payers. The RDOS must be and will be held accountable.  I am not naïve.  We will not change the government but if we can change the culture of our own local government, maybe there is hope.  This is certainly my hope.  I am not abandoning the FD – I simply want to make sure it survives.

Thank you

Joe Simoes

At our annual BBQ on July 16th, 2007, Adrian Erickson on behalf of the Regal Ridge Development, donated a brand new Rosenbaur 4-wheel drive fire engine to the Anarchist Mountain Fire Fighting Society.  This truck was specifically designed for the Anarchist Mountain terrain and the types of drive ways we have leading up to the house.  It is able to climb steep pitches and make very tight turns.  In addition it is fully enclosed to protect the hoses and fire fighters in and around trees.  The Mayor of Osoyoos, John Slater,  our MLA Bill Barisoff and the Osoyoos Fire Chief, Rick Jones joined many residents of Anarchist Mountain in giving Adrian a standing ovation for his generous donation and on going support of Anarchist Mountain.

Our volunteers continue to train aggressively every Monday night and are ready to meet the challenge of protecting our homes and property.