GREENSTONE — A consultant has 38 recommendations for Greenstone to improve their fire service.
The Loomex Group, which was hired to help update the municipality's fire master plan, recently presented to council at a meeting.
The recommendations include implementing a smoke and carbon monoxide program, lowering response time between wards, and additional training for volunteer fire departments.
Between 2018 and 2022, 25 per cent of the department's responses were to motor vehicle incidents. During that same time period, there was an average of 13 property fires per year, which resulted in three fatalities and cost an estimated $2.4 million in damage.
Coun. Fran Koning said she was “a little disappointed” with the lack of statistical data for rural wards.
“I want my constituents to know that will always be my concern for them that they are not always protected as the more urban areas,” said Koning.
Another recommendation is for Greenstone and Hearst to partner and develop a reciprocal agreement allowing both departments to assist in the response to motor vehicle incidents.
Greenstone Fire Chief Jeff Lipskie said the recommendation was the result of a serious collision 70 kilometres east of Longlac last December.
Since Greenstone is a large geographical area, the distance to travel between wards could take between 30 to 40 minutes.
Depending on the size of the fire, each ward department may need additional assistance for aid.
According to the plan, “once the temperature in a room ablaze reaches approximately 590 degrees Celsius, a flashover will occur in the entire room within 6 to 10 minutes (or less).”
An example would be if there was a fire in Caramet, which would have emergency services coming from more than 30 minutes away in Longlac. If the fire required further assistance, firefighters from an hour away in Geraldton would respond.
Another recommendation would be an automatic aid agreement with Manitouwadge to help provide assistance for fires in Caramat.
Coun. Elaine Mannisto expressed concern over that recommendation, noting that at certain times of the year, service roads are flooded, making response times a challenge.
Mannisto asked if Manitouwadge’s response to a fire in Caramat would be automatic.
Although response times between wards are a challenge for the municipality, recruitment and retention of firefighters and fire prevention and public education should be a focus moving forward, according to Coun. Matthew Donovan.
The report said the retention of volunteers has a drop rate of 10 to 20 per cent and a complete turnover of volunteer staff within five to 10 years.
“As a result, fire departments must spend a significant amount of time and money on recruiting and training new volunteers,” the report states.
Donovan stresses that recruitment needs to be a top priority for the fire department.
“The training looks great. The plan looks great. If we are getting 18 to 32 per cent for regular Tuesday night, Wednesday night two-hour training, but if we are looking at expanding it to include some of this other stuff,” said Donovan, “I have real concerns over bodies and time and I’m hoping that glean some additional strategies and recruit some more people because it’s very concerning.