The Niverville Fire Department will once again be responding to all structure fires within two miles of the town of Niverville.

Mayor Myron Dyck says on January 1, 2017 the New Bothwell Fire Department took over fire protection responsibilities for the area immediately surrounding Niverville as part of a friendly annexation agreement between the two municipalities. He says some residents in that area have expressed concerns about the agreement.

"The RM of Hanover was going to be covering all matters within their own boundaries that were fire related. There was some concern amongst those properties that were in close proximity to the Town of Niverville that had formerly been covered by the Town of Niverville that there would be longer response times."

Dyck says the two municipalities have now implemented a policy that will make it standard operating procedure of the Hanover Fire Department to call Niverville Fire Department to all structure fires within two miles of Niverville.

“This is a joint effort between the two municipalities but just because 911 goes off doesn't mean we are going to show up, Hanover has to call us and it is in their operating procedure to call us.”

Dyck says Hanover used to pay Niverville an annual fee for the fire protection they provided within the boundaries of the RM of Hanover. He says now Hanover will only pay Niverville for the individual calls that Niverville responds to alongside New Bothwell.