Seton Portage & Shalalth Fire Protection Service – proposed bylaw amendment
The Seton Portage and Shalalth Fire Protection Service provides essential fire protection to the Seton fire protection area. The Squamish-Lillooet Regional District (SLRD) delivers this service through a third-party supplier, who provides exterior structural firefighting services. The service operates in compliance with provincial standards and maintains favourable fire underwriter ratings. The SLRD-owned Seton Firehall serves as an emergency response hub for the area.
What’s happening?
The SLRD is proposing an update to the fire protection service bylaw for Seton Portage and Shalalth (Electoral Area B).
Why are changes needed?
The fire protection service is vital to keeping the community safe. The demand for reliable and compliant fire protection has increased over time due to a combination of economic development, meeting provincial training standards, maintaining essential equipment, changing weather patterns, and evolving provincial safety requirements. Like many rural communities, Seton Portage and Shalalth face higher costs associated with maintaining modern fire protection capabilities
An authority service delivered by a fire department must be properly organized and operated to provide maximum protection for personnel and for the lives and property of the public it serves. In 2014, the Office of the Fire Commissioner (OFC) introduced Minimum Training Standards to improve firefighter safety and ensure consistent service across British Columbia. While these standards enhance safety, they have also increased the training, equipment, and operational requirements needed to maintain compliance.
In Seton Portage and Shalalth, the fire protection service provides structure fire suppression—responding to fires in and around homes, dwellings, and outbuildings. The service operates under Exterior Operations, focusing on containing fires from outside structures to prevent spread. The OFC Minimum Training Standards now regulate all classifications of structure firefighting, making adherence to these standards compulsory for the SLRD’s service delivery model.
To ensure Seton Portage and Shalalth can continue receiving reliable, compliant, and sustainable fire protection, the SLRD is proposing an update to the fire protection service bylaw.
What’s changing?
Increasing the maximum requisition
The proposed amendment would raise the maximum amount that can be collected for the fire protection service. This change does not set the actual annual requisition—it simply increases the upper limit. The actual tax requisition will be determined annually through the SLRD’s budget process.
Why this matters:
- Fire protection is essential for community safety, emergency response, and insurance eligibility.
- The current funding limit is no longer sufficient to support the service.
- The proposed increase will help ensure the service remains stable, responsive, and available when needed.
What does this mean for you?
The proposed increase may result in a modest rise in your property tax, depending on future budget decisions. This adjustment will help ensure the fire protection service remains reliable and financially sustainable into the future.
Estimated Annual Taxation Amounts: *
| 2026 | 2027 | 2028 | 2029 | 2030 | New Maximum Limit |
| $220.27 | $343.68 | $379.13 | $384.48 | $424.48 | $440.25 |
*Taxation rates shown are current best estimates based on the average assessment value of properties within the Seton/Shalath fire protection service area.
How can you participate?
We want to hear from you!
A community survey is open from January 19, 2026, to February 19, 2026, to gather feedback on the proposed changes.
Your input will help shape the bylaw amendment before it is considered through the Alternative Approval Process (AAP).
The AAP is a formal method of public consent that allows eligible electors to indicate opposition to a proposed initiative. Notice of the AAP will be advertised in the local newspaper and shared on this project page and the SLRD’s Facebook page.