The completed Cherryville Firewatch Building provides space for firefighting equipment storage, volunteer training and community education.
Photo credit: Regional District of North Okanagan
CHERRYVILLE — The Cherryville Firewatch Building is complete and operational following a $120,000 construction commitment from the Cherry Ridge Management Committee and support from donors and the Regional District of North Okanagan, according to an October 22 announcement from the district.
The building provides a place to store firefighting equipment, conduct volunteer training and offer community education. It is part of a preparedness program that Cherryville groups have developed over the past decade, including annual firefighting courses and the purchase of equipment for local wildfire response efforts.
The Cherry Ridge Management Committee (CRMC), associated with the Cherry Ridge Community Forest, committed $120,000 toward construction and helped establish the Cherryville Firewatch Society. The project also received contributions from numerous donors and funding through the RDNO's Electoral Area E Community Works Funding Program.
The regional district said the project was completed without increasing local taxation. The $120,000 represents the committee's commitment rather than a reported total project cost; the district did not disclose the overall construction bill or a breakdown of the other contributions.
According to the RDNO, the committee organized its first S100 firefighting course about 10 years ago and has offered wildfire response training opportunities to approximately 30 residents each year. It also invested in an attack bush truck equipped with a water tank and pump system. The new building gives the program a dedicated location for equipment and future training.
The facility follows plans announced in September 2024, when RDNO reported that a building permit had been secured for a proposed 2,000-square-foot structure at 1217 Highway 6. Those plans included storage for a bush truck and tank pumps, along with office and training space. The district also identified Tolko Industries as a contributor of project materials at the time.
Jim Johnson, the RDNO director for Electoral Area E, credited volunteers, donors and community partners for their work on the project. He said the completed facility would support wildfire preparedness in Cherryville.
RDNO said funding has been secured for two years of training and operations at the completed facility. The Cherryville Firewatch Society plans to pursue additional fundraising to support the program over the longer term.
Creston RCMP are reminding riders that dirt bikes and electric dirt bikes cannot be used on public roads unless they meet provincial licensing, registration and insurance requirements.