Copyright 2006 Toronto Star Newspapers, Ltd.
All Rights Reserved
By PAT HALPIN
The Record (Kitchener-Waterloo, Ontario)
The Hanover Fire Department is becoming a regional specialist in water and ice rescues.
Six of the 22 volunteer members have completed a training course and are ready to help neighbouring fire departments if the need arises, Chief Ken Roseborough said.
“We’re in the process of applying for (provincial) funding for about $42,000 worth of equipment so these people who are now trained have the equipment to do their job,” he said.
At the same time, the volunteer department is adding another specialty and training its firefighters to do confined-spaces rescues.
By March, four members will be trained for emergency work in storm sewers, farm tanks and elevator shafts.
“We’re pursuing it because we have probably 90 per cent of the equipment, so it’s just a matter of getting us to a little higher level of training,” Roseborough said.
Fire departments in Grey County are picking different areas of expertise so that a full range of emergency response can be provided to the region on a mutual aid basis.
Each department is also responsible for public education on fire prevention and safety.
“We’re hoping to really expand into the schools and do, hopefully, more with the seniors than we have in the past,” Roseborough said.
That effort will include home-safety visits to ensure residents know about new legislation that requires a smoke detector on every level of the home.