LAURIE WEIR
The Township of Rideau Lakes is cutting ties with the Smiths Falls Fire Services in 2026 – a partnership that started several years ago to help cover the South Elmsley ward, which is the area of the municipality closest to the town.
The township recently opened their new Fire Station No. 2 on Otty Lake Road, and now they will be better equipped to serve that area, Shellee Fournier, CAO of Rideau Lakes told this publication.
The Mutual Aid agreement stays in place for both departments
This will be a cost savings of approximately $82,000 annual for the township, Fournier said, but the township must provide a 12-month period of notification.
The most recent agreement has been in place since 2006.
The township completed the rebuild of Station No. 2 after its loss by fire in December, 2021. This new fire station is a four-bay 5,000 square foot facility including a meeting room, decontamination room, laundry room and is fully accessible. This facility will service the South Elmsley Ward and vicinity. A ribbon cutting took place in October.
Questions to the Smiths Falls Fire Department were redirected to Rideau Lakes.