By Laurie Watt 

Growth – building up as well as expanding boundaries – is playing a key role in Barrie’s fire master planning process.

In concrete terms, it could mean moving Station 1 to Dunlop Street from its nearby location on Vespra Street, as well as the construction of two fire halls – one in the city’s northwest, the other in the southwest.

“With the anticipated intensification policy, it is more likely we will grow up rather than out in the short term. We have to identify the risks of growing up, due to the intensification and the effect it will have,” said Ward 7 Coun. John Brassard, the chairperson of the city’s fire master plan committee.

“We’re also looking at risk assessment in the community, like high rises and condos and area such as industrial expansion. It’s going to be a broad-based assessment of what the community needs, with the major issue being growth.”

Growing up means more high-rise residential complexes, as well as other higher-density residential projects infilling fields in the city, as well as more sophisticated industries moving to the city.

However, Barrie also has to plan for boundary changes, added Brassard, who also sits on the city’s Barrie-Innisfil Negotiations (BIN) team.

“It wouldn’t be prudent for us to not look at the possibility. A master fire plan usually has a 10-year span, and within those 10 years, the potential for boundary changes exists. We want to be prepared, not scrambling. Now is the time to plan.”

Barrie’s fire master plan dates back to 1995. Highlights then included a new or relocating a fire hall in 2002 and securing a site in the city’s northwest. The report also renamed the fire department to Barrie Fire and Emergency Service and called for a city bylaw requiring smoke alarms in homes.

Barrie’s response time standard is 10 firefighters on the scene within 10 minutes, and Brassard said this standard is critical in determining where the two additional fire stations will be located.

“In my ward, there’s been tremendous growth and that is served by the Ardagh station. Is there a need in Ward 7? I’d suggest so,” he said of the ward that’s south of Harvie Road and west of Highway 400. “With the possibility of boundary expansions, we have to plan where, if boundaries change, what would be suitable locations.”

He added current moratorium lands – which are adjacent to the city’s south boundary – need to be considered, as they open up for development in 2012.

“There will be industrial and residential growth there, and we have to plan for it,” he said.

In Barrie’s core, the challenge is to replace Station 1 – and this year, council will have to decide whether to build on another site or temporarily move staff to clear the way for a new station on the Vespra Street parcel.

“The challenge is relocating staff and the fibre-optic lines. We’re looking at upwards of $1 million just for relocation costs,” he said.

“The ideal situation is to build a new station in another location that meets the needs of the community and move staff to it, so we would not be spending all that money in temporary relocation costs.”