From left, RDFFG Chair Art Kaehn, Shell-Glen Fire Chief Randy Kissel, Lheidli T’enneh Chief Dominick Frederick – photo 250News

Prince George, B.C. – The Lheidl T’enneh and the Regional District of Fraser-Fort George (RDFFG) have signed an historic fire services agreement.

Roughly 10 years in the making, the deal will allow the Regional District to provide fire protection services to the south side of the Lheidli T’enneh reserve, adjacent to Shelley and will be provided through the Shell-Glen Volunteer Fire Department.

“It means the fire department can come on the reserve now,” said Chief Dominic Frederick. “It means a lot to our community.”

RDFFG Chair  Art Kaehn called it a momentous occasion.  “It’s long overdue, we’ve been neighbours for so long and now we can do something substantial for the community.”

The agreement will provide fire services to 17 homes (roughly 20 people) and will span five years for a total cost of $39.400.

Along with fire services, the agreement will also allow for emergency first responders service and for members of the Lheidli T’enneh to become members of the Shell-Glen Volunteer Fire Department.

So what took so long to strike a deal?

“These are federal lands (on the reserve) and that makes it a bit more complex,” said Kaehn. “As neighbours we wanted to help each other, it’s just working ourselves over these special hurdles that come with the fact they’re on federal lands and we’re on provincial lands outside here.”

For Lheidli T’enneh band councillor Louella Nome, today’s announcement was an emotional one.

“This has been a long time coming. I’ve probably worked on developing the agreement starting 10 years ago. I’ve been on council for all these years and have really tried hard to get the agreement dusted off and resurrected and here we are today,” she said.

Nome says the north side of the reserve, where most band members live, still doesn’t have fire services but notes the band is currently in negotiations with the City of Prince George to try and rectify that.