A group of concerned Summerland residents is pushing the district council to allow local firefighters to be dispatched as first responders during medical emergencies.

The group, which includes former police officer Mike Pim and community member Lynn Stevenson, presented a 114-page information package during a recent council meeting, urging a change in policy that currently prevents the Summerland Fire Department from providing first aid on emergency calls.

Stevenson said the group is asking council to mandate the fire department to provide basic medical assistance, especially when BC Ambulance Service is delayed or unavailable. “The cost of implementing this service is very affordable,” she said. “One ambulance is staffed 24/7, and another is only on-call. If either vehicle is unavailabl

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