HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2018-07-12, Page 2PAGE 2. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JULY 12, 2018.
New training costs, impact on recruits concerns Bedard
By Shawn Loughlin
The Citizen
Marty Bedard, fire chief for Huron
East, North Huron and Morris-
Turnberry, is concerned not only
with escalating training costs, but
that new training regulations may
appear prohibitive to new recruits.
Bedard, speaking to Huron East
Council at a meeting late last month,
said that while it's difficult to
calculate exact training costs, he
expects that certifying a new
firefighter to Level 2 would cost
approximately $6,300 per firefighter
at the Fire College and
approximately $7,300 at a regional
training centre.
He said that while registration fees
are higher at regional training
centres, the costs would include
compensation, mileage, pre -class
homework and registration fees.
He told council that the
municipality spends approximately
$500 per firefighter over and above
regular training nights to complete
training in-house. However, to
ensure that the new training
regulations are met within the
allotted time frame, Bedard said it
would be difficult to complete
training in-house.
"Many of the comments requested
were accepted and changed [through
the consultation process], except for
the funding assistance," Bedard said.
"The Ontario Association of Fire
Chiefs will continue to advocate for
funding to support the
implementation of these new
regulations. If funding is not
provided by the province, this will
have an impact on our training costs
in the future. It is also my feeling
that it will make recruitment of new
firefighters difficult.
A memorable narrative
The children at the annual Brussels Community Bible Chapel's vacation Bible school last week
displayed an impressive and in-depth knowledge of the story of the crucification of Jesus
when taken to task by instructor Jen Armitage from Faith Mission. From those in attendance
at Golgotha, "The place of the Skull" to Jesus' last words before his death and subsequent
reincarnation, there wasn't a question asked that wasn't readily, and eagerly answered by the
students. (Denny Scott photo)
At the Branch
Cash tribute show set at Branch
By Jo -Ann McDonald
It has been a nice week around the
Brussels Legion Branch with the
usual busy weekend. The Legion
Pipe Band is still looking for new
members. They will teach you how
to play drum or the pipes. They meet
Thursday evenings. Contact Don
Martin or Jamie Mitchell if you
would like more information. A
person of any age can learn to be
part of the band with the right
training.
The Branch served a dinner for
Blyth Festival theatre -goers on
Friday evening. It was a very small
crowd of 14, but they enjoyed the
roast beef dinner and the hospitality
of the Branch. Comrades Jo -Ann
McDonald, John Lowe and Deb
Ross were on hand to feed the
group.
The Saturday afternoon euchre
had 10 tables of players on hand for
the day. Comrades Glenn Bridge and
Frank Workman organized the day.
Winners were: first, Edna and
Sharon, 77; second, tied, Nancy and
Lou and Bruce and Joan, 76; lone
hands, Joann MacDonald and
Dorothy Carter, six; low, Joyce
Hodgins and Ann Laidlaw, 46.
Please note, the euchres are being
cancelled for the rest of the summer.
They will return in September again
and hopefully we will have some
new faces to help run the event.
The Sunday night dance had a
crowd of 60 enjoy the music of the
new band County Roads. They play
great music and everyone seems to
enjoy them.
The food booth at the ball
tournament is only two weeks away
and more help is needed. Comrades
please call the Branch and volunteer
some time.
Tickets are available for the "Ring
of Fire: A Johnny Cash Experience"
show at the Branch, Brussels Bulk
and Bargain and Georges to Jo -
Ann's. The tickets are $20 in
advance and $25 at the door.
Kl
Brussels Legion 218
presents
roter - A Johnny Cash Experience
Friday, August 10
Brussels Legion
2 Kowa ihour
ate Me hite.
Tickets $20 in advance • $25 at the door
Tickets available at Brussels Bulk & Bargains
and George's to Jo -Ann's
"In order to meet the requirements
of certification within two years,
new firefighters will have to commit
to extra training on weekends or take
time off from their full-time jobs to
attend courses."
The three new regulations that
would affect local fire departments,
Bedard said, would be mandatory
certification and training for
firefighters, community risk
assessments by municipalities and
public reporting on fire department
response times. The new regulations
will come into force over the course
of the next two years.
Bedard said that there will be a
grandfathering process for
mandatory training and certification
and that the new regulations will
only apply to new firefighters.
July 1, 2019 is the date that new
training will be required, phased in
over three years depending on the
tasks for which the firefighter will be
responsible.
In 2019, all new public educators,
suppression firefighter and pump
operator hires need to be under the
new regulations as of July 1. On
Jan. 1, 2020, all fire inspectors,
officers, instructors, dispatchers,
investigators and hazardous
materials personnel need to be
educated and Jan. 1, 2021 is the
certification date for all technical
rescuers. This date, Bedard said, was
moved back one year from the
original date that was proposed.
As for community risk
assessments, it dictates that all
municipalities have to undertake a
standardized risk assessment that
will be used to inform the
development of municipal fire
protection services. The
implementation date is July 1, 2019,
which was moved from Jan. 1, 2019.
A risk assessment will then have
to be completed every five years
with annual monitoring and review.
Bedard did say, however, that
while the regulation comes into
force on July 1, 2019, municipalities
will have five years from that date to
complete a community risk
assessment.
The building stock profile for a
particular community, Bedard said,
will include the types of buildings,
the uses of the building, the number
of each type of building, the number
of each use of building and any
building -related risks known to the
fire department.
The implementation date for
public reporting on fire department
response times did not change and
will remain Jan. 1, 2020. However,
Bedard told council, it will be
reviewed before the regulation
comes into effect.
FROM BRUSSELS
.:, .. ,-
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