Annual fire department calls have almost doubled over the last decade, with a growing trend towards more medical emergencies and fewer fires.
In his annual report to council last week, Mapleton Fire Chief Rick Richardson noted that fires accounted for 32% of all calls in 1999 – and 42% the following year – but just 13% of all 2009 calls. Meanwhile, medical assist calls rose from 16% in 1999 to 46% last year.
Total responses for the Moorefield and Drayton fire stations have risen 95% from 73 in 2000 to 142 last year.
The 2009 call volume was almost identical to that of 2008 (140), but required 1,809 hours (up about 12% from 1,620 last year). In 2007 there were 166 total calls in the municipality, while in the previous three years call volume ranged from 134 to 171.
Responses last year included 65 medical calls, 24 accidents or extrications, 19 fires, 18 false alarms, eight “cancelled on route,” six mutual aid requests and three public assistance calls.
Personnel
Currently the Drayton station has 19 firefighters and three auxiliary, while the Moorefield station has 20 firefighters and two auxiliary.
Richardson said collectively the department’s firefighters have 437 years of experience, with an average of 10 years per firefighter – far better than the provincial average of 5.5 years for volunteer departments.
Fourteen members have more than 10 years experience, 13 have five to 10 years experience and 18 auxiliary and firefighters have joined the department within the last five years.
On May 26 at the Ontario Fire Marshall’s long service awards ceremony, Ray Ellis was recognized for 40 years of service. Richardson, Earl Campbell, Dave Eveleigh and Grant Morgan will be recognized for 25 years, while Daryl Brodhaecker, Jim Grose and Tom Wood will be recognized for 20 years.
The department is currently welcoming applications, which will be considered before hiring auxiliary and providing the basic 40-hour training course. Those members will then become firefighters when positions become available.
Training
Training also kept firefighters busy last year, as the department held or was involved in seven specialty courses, ranging from first responder to infectious disease control.
Five auxiliary members are currently enrolled in the 40-hour basic training course, while DZ licensing testing for three members is July 6.
Richardson said the Ontario Fire College is expected to bring its pumper operations certified course to Mapleton in June and possibly again in September.
All fire department members have been trained in the new breathing apparatus and 15 members have received firefighter certification from the Ontario Fire Marshall for completing 52 items of the firefighter curriculum.
All firefighters will participate in the annual provincial standard fitness testing.
Equipment
All tangible assets have been identified and the department will continue with a 10-year budget forecast.
New breathing apparatus was purchased earlier this year and bunker gear continues to be replaced as new recruits become firefighters.
The department has no scheduled vehicle replacements until 2017.
The new “Bell FleetNet” radio system, which is intended to provide better communication with dispatchers in Guelph, is to be installed soon.
The department has received federal funding through the Joint Emergency Preparedness Program (JEPP) for new digital portable radios as well as a new tower link in Teviotdale, with additional costs to be shared with Minto and Wellington North.
Education
Public education was an important part of the department’s job again last year. In schools, firefighters targeted grades 1 through 4, and used the fire safety house shared by several county departments at local events.
Richardson noted the department is looking into a preferred method of education for the parochial schools in the township. At least one councillor had previously inquired about education in those schools.
The department continues to host its annual Fire Prevention Day pancake breakfast in October, which serves hundreds of locals every year.
The current website, which is mapletonfirerescue.com, remains active but will soon be replaced with a new site that features fire prevention messages, a schedule of upcoming events, links to other educational sites, information about the township’s burn bylaw and forms for prospective recruits.
In closing, Richardson invited all councillors to the county mutual aid meeting in Drayton on July 6, which will feature a guest speaker from the Meaford department.
