Mayor's Inquiry to the Truro Fire Chief - May 1st / 09
In light of the current fire in Halifax and the Porter's Lake this time last year (June) and the reported concerns expressed in the past by all levels of the Fire Service about residents adjacent to Victoria Park about a like Potential fire ...I want Chief Bremner to do a report Monday on what residents should do and what our response would be should the same thing happen here!
It has been said many times that it is not a question of IF but When a situation. Like Herring Cove happens! Watching the news last night I was struck by the similar terrain of Herring, Ferguson Cove to that of the Landscape of our Park! As well the intensity of the blaze...it will be no different in VP!!!
Fire Chief’s Response to Mayor’s Inquiry:
- First off, this type of situation has an extremely high potential of happening in our community in or around the Water Shed / Victoria Park area.
- The main stakeholders continual communicate, discuss and plan for this type of emergency.
- Those stakeholders being
- Neighbouring Fire Brigades
- Department of Natural Resources
- Red Cross
- Truro Town EMO
- Regional EMO
- Truro Fire Service
- Others
- A Victoria Park / Water shed area fire plan has been developed and reviewed for internal fire service management guidance.
- The Truro EMO Committee reviews the processes of emergency management within the Town mandate, working in dialog with the REMO.
- Education, in the areas of training and table top exercises are conducted. The next is planned for June / 09.
Residents located near the park or water shed must be aware of the following:
- Fire has no limits or knows no boundaries; it is the responsibility of home and property owners to maintain their properties in addressing safety including the cleanup of their properties.
- As the leader of the Local fire service, it is always the highest prior to provide safety to you and our firefighters in the response to all emergencies. It cannot be over empathized that safety starts with you in partnership with us and the other first response agencies in the event of any type of emergency situation. There are numerous websites to visit to educate yourselves about how to protect your property and prepare your property in the event of a forest fire emergency.
Here are a couple links for your viewing. We encourage you to take the time to educate and conduct the appropriate action required to your property (ies).
- When informed of an emergency taking place; be ready to evacuate on moment’s notice, leaving all things behind.
- A - Listen to the authorities and the directions provided
- B - Listen to local media / radio stations for information and updates
- C - Obey all street closures and escape routes noted.
- D - Do not return home until authorized by the authorities
- E - Report to the designated comfort / evacuation center to register
- F - Inform authorities of any person(s) who are unable to leave there residencies,
- for whatever the reason, so appropriate actions can be taken.
- Maintain your properties by keeping them; clear of brush, tall grass, heavy or built up ground cover and, or trees that are close to your houses or buildings.
- No matter how proactive and prepared we are, if any situation reaches the “perfect storm conditions”, we will have lost homes, and other items in the operations of creating a realistic / safe position that allows the firefighting crews the ability to slow down and contain the fire safely.
One item that would assist the Fire Service in response to this type of emergency would be the purchase of a small wild land fire apparatus. This would support an arrival in hard to access locations at an early stage in the emergency, where presently we cannot gain access with our larger apparatus. This specialized unit is noted in our apparatus replacement schedule for consideration.
If you have any questions or concerns relating to this topic or other fire / emergency situations; please make your inquires to the Truro Fire Service, by contacting the Fire Service at 165 Victoria Street or calling 895.4437 or 895.4459.
We are providing a number of informational pamphlets for your review and safety awareness. Safety and preventative maintenance is everyone’s responsibility. The Truro Fire Service is committed to provide information and emergency response that will partner in a safer and healthier community to its residents.
Taking the time to understand the dos and don’ts is a first step to preventative measures.
Burning is not a wise choice or permitted within the Town limits without first applying to the Truro Fire Inspector’s Office for discussion and a site visit. If a burning permit is authorized it will come with a $10.00 fee made payable to the Town by cash or cheque. We encourage chipping or hauling it away in most cases.
Respectfully:
Tom Bremner – Chief
Truro Fire Service
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