An intermunicipal fire protection agreement is about to be concluded between four municipalities in the eastern part of the MRC Avignon.

CARLETON-SUR-MER – An intermunicipal fire protection agreement is about to be concluded between four municipalities in the eastern part of the MRC Avignon.

In October, Escuminac, Nouvelle, Carleton-sur-Mer and Maria will adopt resolutions formalizing an intermunicipal agreement to consolidate their fire safety services.

Carleton-sur-Mer will assume management of the service as of January 1.

“Our aim is to optimize our services, improve our practices and be more attractive for recruiting and retaining firefighters. We are very pleased with this progressive step, which will enable us to provide an enhanced service throughout the territory,” explains Mathieu Lapointe, mayor of Carleton-sur-Mer.

A service director will be hired, prevention will be transferred from the MRC to the régie intermunicipal administrative body, and a full-time training officer will work within the organization to improve practices.

“We will benefit from the combined expertise that will be added to the team,” says the mayor.

The four municipalities will consolidate their fire safety budgets, and participation will be slightly increased. “But, above all, there will be a huge increase in the service offered. We’re getting up to speed. We had some challenges in terms of upgrading prevention, among other things. We had a lot of work to do to improve our practices. By consolidating our budgets, we will be more efficient,” notes Mr. Lapointe.

Among the benefits highlighted are the reduced duplication of administrative structures, standardized working conditions for the 60 firefighters, maximized resources available throughout the territory during the day, and standardized prevention and service operations.

An advisory committee has been established to oversee the service.

The municipalities will retain responsibility for their fire stations and rolling stock, while the rest of the equipment will be pooled within the integrated service.

The new authority is also seeking funding from the Quebec government, which encourages such collaborations.

“The Department of Municipal Affairs has programs for service pooling. We are aiming to secure up to $250,000, which will assist us during the first five years of this new integrated service,” suggests the mayor.

The initiative commenced eight months ago following a fire safety study that recommended the creation of two units within the MRC.