Fire Chief Bob Gordon says fire responses are down a bit from last year at this time, but that one day can make a big difference.
The fire chief told council there had been four responses on June 6. None were fire related.
Deputy chief Steve Goode said they were hydro line issues.
Mayor Dennis Lever said a defibrillator was used on one of the calls and asked how often it is brought into play. That call was a medical assist.
Goode said, “It can happen if we’re first on the scene.”
“It can happen, but quite often the ambulance gets there before we do.”
As for a recent report of a big black cloud of smoke being reported in the area of Victoria Road, officials believe there was a misunderstanding on what a fire permit allows.
Lever said both he and councillor Ken Roth were at a local coffee shop that day when they spotted a “big black cloud” over Victoria Road.
“Yes there was,” Goode said. “It’s being dealt with.”
He said there have been issues at that property before.
Goode added the individual believed the permit allowed him to burn all the materials in the back yard.
“The fire chief is dealing with it,” Goode said.
Gordon said, “Usually, when someone is doing [a project] that big, they come and talk to us.”
The permit holder is then told if he needs to have a fire truck and two firefighters on standby, to ensure the fire remains under control.
“But he never came to us at all. He got his permit from the building official and went ahead.”
Councillor Wayne Stokley said if the proponent is told that a truck and two standby firefighters are required, “would they pay for that?”
“At the going rate”, Gordon said.
