New $151K repeater in Hudson’s Hope proposed to stop firefighters losing crucial radio lifeline in emergencies

HUDSON’S HOPE, B.C. — A proposed new $151,209 communications repeater in Hudson’s Hope would stop firefighters losing signal on their radios at critical moments when responding to an emergency. 

That’s according to Justin McKinnon, operations manager with Petron Communications, the company working with Hudson’s Hope Fire Department to find a viable solution to its problem receiving and transmitting using the devices.

Hand-held portable radios are key components of the day-to-day operations equipment at the department; they are the firefighters’ immediate lifeline for help should a threatening situation develop.

Hudson’s Hope fire chief Fred Burrows told the Peace River Regional District’s Rural Budgets Administration Committee on April 17th that radios are so critical they have been identified in WorkSafe BC regulations, which states effective communications must be maintained by firefighters inside and outside of closed locations.

It’s important for firefighters to use their handhelds to call for assistance, Burrows said, because dispatch doesn’t work with cellphones, and currently, if they are at a call and use the handhelds to call for assistance, chances are they’re not going to get through. 

“That presents a problem, as an employer, in regard to firefighter safety,” said Burrows.

“With the issue around transmitting and receiving, we have engaged Petron Communications, along with Harris radios, to put their engineers onto the problem and provide a viable solution.

“The proposed solution will provide much better coverage within the district, both along Highway 29 in area E and portions of Highway 29 in area B.”

Since 2021, the regional district has been planning for a transition to the P25 radio system for fire rescue services within the region.

A request for proposals was issued in 2022, and testing of the system began in January.

Because the regional district had the forethought to build this P25 system, it saves time, money and creates lots of flexibility, said McKinnon.

“This is a proposal for a P25 emergency communications repeater site – what it’s going to do is improve the reliability and interoperability within the Hudson’s Hope area,” he said.

“Obviously, it’s targeted for first responders in the Hudson’s Hope area.”

Hudson’s Hope’s uniqueness is part of the problem with communications. Not only is the community in a valley, but it also has two fire halls, one in the town and one at Beryl Prairie. The repeater is on Bullhead Mountain, which is the highest point between the two halls. 

As one comes into the valley from the dam, the signal loss begins, McKinnon explained. 

“So, we thought, how do we flood the town of Hudson’s Hope and the highway in both directions with better coverage? You put a repeater there.”

The new design will utilize the existing 64-foot tower at the Hudson’s Hope town hall.

“We can house the new repeater inside city hall, we already have a network connection, they’ve already got back-up power. It makes it a very easy add-on, to add this to the system.”

McKinnon estimates it will take a couple of months to finish the engineering, get it on paper and submitted to Industry and Science Economic Development Canada for a new repeater frequency, which has a six-to-eight-week turnaround on applications.

With another few months to order, test and install the equipment, McKinnon says the new system should be up and running six months from the day it is approved.

The total estimated cost of the project would be $151,209.33 plus annual maintenance costs of $6,000.

This is approximately one-third of the cost of building a new site, which McKinnon says would cost between $300,000 and $500,000.