Spending upwards of $700,000 for new emergency breathing apparatuses is like “buying a Ferrari” when all Muskoka Lakes needs is “a Smart car,” says township councillor Nancy Thompson.

Thompson’s comments came last Tuesday during a council debate on a new proposal to replace Muskoka Lakes’ entire stock of self-contained breathing apparatuses (SCBAs), the respiratory devices used to help firefighters breathe while working around smoke or other harmful inhalants.

The proposal was put forward by township fire chief Jim Sawkins.

According to Sawkins, the majority of the township’s 71 SCBAs are old and in need of replacement. Many of the units were certified prior to 1995 safety standards and do not have manufacturer or repair information available.

Sawkins said the township could replace all of the units, plus buy 20 more interest-free, in a limited time offer by one manufacturer. The deal would see the municipality acquire all the SCBAs early next year, but split the estimated $700,000 cost into equal payments over the next three years.

Sawkins recommended the township take the deal.

“We are in trouble with our units,” Sawkins said. “I’m telling you, as your fire chief, that I’m concerned.”

Thompson, however, was skeptical of the need to replace all the units right away. She noted the current SCBAs meet legal standards for safety.

“I don’t see the need to pay $1 million . . . to upgrade things that are still legal,” said Thompson. Muskoka Lakes, she added, is already struggling to keep its 2008 budget down.

“We have a situation where we could add extra things and make more of a ‘Ferrari car’ instead of a Smart car, but we don’t have to.”

Thompson went on to say that “a large part” of the township’s budget has gone to the fire department over the last several years, even though the municipality does not experience that many fires.

“I think the stats show that there are fewer and fewer structural fires,” she said. “I have a major concern with approving this at this time.”

Thompson’s concerns echo those of other residents in Muskoka Lakes, who over the last two years alone have seen their township invest more than $6 million into its fire department.

Earlier this summer, the municipality acquired five new fire trucks at a cost of almost $2 million. It also continued with plans to construct new fire stations in Port Carling and Walker’s Point, at a combined cost of over $3.3 million.

Plans to construct a new fire station in Bala and renovate the fire station in Windermere are also still in the works.

The investments follow several other large purchases for the fire department in 2006, including a new $78,000 fire boat, and two new fire vehicles for the department.

The multimillion-dollar spending was deemed necessary by council to upgrade the fire department to improve safety and enhance emergency response times.

This rationale was again cited last week by Sawkins in response to Thompson’s concerns about the need for the SCBAs.

“I’m proud to say our fire stats our down,” said Sawkins. “But they were also down in Wasaga Beach and Barrie . . . and look what happened.”

Both communities recently experienced fires that devoured large parts of their downtowns.

“We have the same risks,” said the fire chief.

In the end, many councillors agreed with Sawkins’ rationale.

Councillor Karen Ellis said she initially shared Thompson’s concerns, but after speaking with Sawkins, feels the SCBA investment is necessary.

“I know it’s a lot of money . . . but I don’t think we can put a cost on (firefighters’ lives),” said Ellis.

Councillor Mary Grady agreed.

“I don’t believe the cost of $700,000 is too much to pay for any one of those individuals, who do so much and ask for so little,” said Grady.

Following a recorded vote, the resolution to go to tender for the new SCBAs was passed 9 to 1.

Thompson voted against the motion.

Following the meeting, Sawkins told this newspaper that, contrary to Thompson’s comments, fire calls in Muskoka Lakes actually increased in 2007.

In 2006, the department responded to 66 fire calls from January to September. The township responded to 80 fire calls during the same time this year, he said.