The provincial government's decision to cut food and housing benefits to specialized "Rapattack" forest firefighters in Salmon Arm will save between $119,000 and $325,000 each year, a spokeswoman told CBC Radio One's Radio West. Salmon Arm is the only Rapattack base in B.C. Cut about fairness to other firefightersThe government says the cut is also about fairness, since no other firefighters have food provided to them by the province. It says some places have lodging provided — Alexis Creek, Fort Nelson, Dease Lake and Princeton — but Salmon Arm is no longer considered a remote enough location for those benefits. With files from CBC Radio One's Radio WestTo hear the full story, click the audio labelled: Province says cutting Salmon Arm firefighters' benefits about taxpayer dollars, fairness

Source: CBC News November 05, 2016 00:56 UTC