Hundreds of volunteer firefighters in Central Kootenay district will now be paid

Effective immediately, hundreds of volunteer firefighters in parts of B.C.’s West Kootenay are going to begin receiving payment for training and call response.

The Regional District of Central Kootenay is going to pay around 220 firefighters $15 an hour, with another 150 crew members set to join the payroll by next year.

The district encompasses 19 small, rural fire departments from Yahk to the Castlegar area and up into the Slocan Valley.

Andrew Bellerby, the regional fire chief who oversees all of the