The community of Gogama will have fire protection beyond next Friday, even if the 11-member volunteer brigade carries through on its threat to resign.
Local services board chair Daniel Mantha says in a statement that the nearby Mattagami First Nation Reserve is promising to cover Gogama with its fire department, while the Ontario Fire Marshal trains new firefighters.
As for fears on social media that having no direct fire protection will void residents’ insurance policies, Mantha says his board is not aware that that is true.
The promises to resign are the latest wrinkle in an ongoing nasty dispute between Fire Chief Mike Benson and the local services board.
Mantha says the board has not received any written resignations yet, but the Fire Marshal’s Office tells him it has received them from Benson, his deputy and two others.
More from original story:Â ENTIRE GOGAMA FIRE DEPARTMENT RESIGNING