Town snuffs out Sunset Ridge fire hall

Posted by on Tuesday, December 8th, 2015 at 1:02pm.

A residential home in the Cochrane community of Sunset Ridge that was designated as a fire hall is being returned to private use.

The Town of Cochrane announced that it will be removing the signs placed on the home at 4 Sunset Square as it has received notice from a new owner that it must vacate.

When the neighbourhood was being developed, the Town had made a deal with the developer to lease the home at a nominal price for the purpose of having firefighting facilities close at hand, similar to an arrangement in the Calgary community of Hidden Valley.

There were no long-range plans put into place when the lease was formalized in 2008 and the plan to turn the home into a fire station was never actualized.

A spokesman for the firefighters union in Cochrane told the Cochrane Eagle that having a fire fall in Sunset Ridge was likely wishful thinking on the part of town council.  The Mayor of Cochrane was emphatic that the removal of the potential facility will not affect residents of Cochrane to the north east of Highway 1A and 22.

The signage on the home, which likely would have been a curiosity to area residents, should have removed from the building long ago and may have given people in the neighbourhood a sense of false hope.

Both the fire department and town council believe the neighbourhood is sufficiently serviced despite not having a full-service facility in Sunset Ridge or adjoining neighbourhoods.  However, council admits that a second fire hall within the town itself is required and would be another drawing card for people considering a move to the town.

Another fire hall would certainly help in obtaining affordable home insurance.  Some of the areas which are under consideration for a fire station are Riversong or Fireside.  There has been tremendous growth in these new neighbourhoods since 2008 which is when Sunset Ridge was on the hot seat for a new station.  Since that time there has been a new shift to the south end of town.

Southbow Landing is an area recently approved for development by town council.  The community plan for this new subdivision includes provision for a two-acre plot of land for the construction of an emergency services building which would include fire.

Southbow Landing has been approved for the 545 acres nestled between River Heights on Cochrane’s south end, and the town limits.  The development has room for 3,370 residential units which is enough housing for approximately 9,000 new residents.

The current response area which the Town of Cochrane’s fire department is responsible for includes parts of Rocky View County as well as portions of Highway 1A and Highway 22 (vehicle fires/accidents).  The department is also back up for the Municipal District of Bighorn, Redwood Meadows town site, the Stoney First Nation, Village of Ghost Lake and Waiporous.  In addition to structural and vehicular fires, the Cochrane fire brigade is responsible for water and ice rescues on the Bow River and rescues in high locations such as trees and buildings.

Fire personnel are deployed from Griffin Station at 20 Grande Boulevard in Cochrane. There is a full-time fire chief, a deputy and 18 full-time staff, with 53 casual firefighters.

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