A referendum regarding a proposed fire protection service for the Mount Washington resort community will be held in September.

The service would include all residential, commercial and recreational areas in the community.

Since 2009, four structures in the region have burned to the ground.

The Comox Valley Regional District has previously said resorts aren’t like regular communities in that it would be difficult to get a pumper truck around in the summer let alone when there’s 10 to 15 feet of snow.

If the referendum passes the intent would be to purchase basic firefighting equipment and store it in a facility on the mountain.

The resort would also enter into a contract with one of the municipalities and one of their fire services would respond in a pickup in order to get there faster, the district said.

Last year the resort and concerned citizens requested that the CVRD establish a fire protection service.

Advance voting will take place from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on September 7 in the CVRD boardroom in Courtenay.

Voting day is scheduled for September 17 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Alpine Lodge in Mount Washington.

All voters are required to bring two pieces of identification with at least one of them showing their signature and one that shows their residential address.

More information about the fire protection service project can be found at www.comoxvalleyrd.ca/mtwashingtonfireproject