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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - Residents outside of city limits could soon pay more for emergency fire and ambulance services.

The fire division plans to raise fees for highway response calls outside city boundaries, citing higher fuel prices. The new rate would be $1,500 plus $2 per km, up from the previous rate of $1,000 plus $1 per km.

Deputy fire chief of operations Darcy Hernblad said he thinks the proposed new rates are fair because trips outside of the city - including all areas before the old Rocking Horse Ranch site coming into the city and past the Yellowknife River bridge heading out - also reduce manpower in the event of any other emergency.

"Every time we're out of the city, it ends up costing taxpayers," said Hernblad, explaining when two firefighters are away on a highway call, the two remaining on-duty firefighters need to call a group alert, bringing in all firefighters, to respond to a fire in the city.

"There's a $1,000 bill (to taxpayers) right there," he said.

Former premier Joe Handley, who lives on Ingraham Trail near Prelude Lake, said he doesn't think many outer-city residents use the service, which includes fire division response to car accidents.

"I don't think it will be a huge concern," he said, because residents outside of city limits understand they don't pay taxes to the city, only to the GNWT.

"We realize we have to pay our way," Handley said. "I have no quarrel with the city. What I have a concern with is what we're getting for our taxes from the GNWT."

Loretta Abernethy, another Ingraham Trail resident, said she doesn't know many people there who have had to call for fire or ambulance services.

"If you have to have it, you have to have it," she said. "I think (the proposed fee) is a little steep, but everything's steep."

Getting funds for highway fire response service has been a "long-standing problem," said Coun. David Wind, who's been on council for two years and is now trying to draw more attention to the lack of highway services funding.

"We're not getting enough of a contribution from the GNWT - not near enough to cover the costs," he said after raising the issue during a committee meeting discussion about the proposed fee hikes.

Public Works Director Greg Kehoe said city administration has been continually trying to get more money for the highway response program from the GNWT.

The department of public safety also proposed new fees for false alarms. The first three false alarms at the same place would be free, then would cost the caller $1,000 for each additional false alarm within a calendar year.

The fire division has never before charged residents for false alarms, but the number of false alarms is increasing and the city says it can't cover the additional costs.

Last year, firefighters responded to 231 false alarms - 53 per cent of total calls. This year there have been 129 false alarms to date.

Hernblad said most false alarms are due to "poor maintenance" in buildings, particularly with malfunctioning smoke alarms or sprinkler systems, and "mischievous" alarm pulls often resulting from low building security.

"We get way too many false alarms here in Yellowknife," he said. "They come at the expense of having firefighters where they really need to be."

Several cities in other provinces already charge for false fire alarms. Edmonton residents have no charge for the first false alarm. Then they must pay $65 for the second, $328 for the third and $655 for each additional false alarm within one year.

The proposed fees passed through first and second reading as part of the Fees and Charges bylaw, with Couns. Wind, Paul Falvo and Montgomery opposed at council's regular public meeting Monday night. The fees are expected to be included in next year's budget after the bylaw's third reading next month.