Mountain View County council has deferred a vote on a bylaw that would allow volunteer firefighters to install flashing green lights on their private vehicle for use when responding to their respective firehalls during emergencies.
Councillors were scheduled to vote on a bylaw allowing the lights, but deferred the matter pending comments from area fire chiefs.
The Town of Didsbury had made a request that the county consider creating a bylaw which would allow for rural volunteer firefighters to use the lights.
Didsbury already allows its firefighters to use the lights, but a countywide bylaw is only now up for consideration as a safety measure.
Councillors instructed administration to contact fire chiefs, get their comments, if any, and then report back to council.
Having the flashing green lights would not allow the firefighters to speed or otherwise contravene the Traffic Safety Act.
Councillor Angela Aalbers said the public would need to be informed about the lights and their function so as to avoid any confusion on the roads.
Councillor Duncan Milne, who is a former volunteer firefighter, says he supports the idea of volunteer firefighters having the lights on their private vehicles.
There are about 125 volunteer firefighters in Mountain View County and area urban municipalities, said Jeff Holmes, director of legislative services.
