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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2017-03-30, Page 10PAGE 10. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MARCH 30, 2017. Sparling, Marshall make final M -T fire presentation By Denny Scott The Citizen Two emergency officials from North Huron and Morris-Turnberry made final reports to Morris- Turnberry Council during its March 21 meeting. Outgoing Fire Department of North Huron and North Huron Director of Emergency Services David Sparling and former Morris- Turnberry Fire Prevention Officer James Marshall made a final year- end report to Morris-Turnberry that included some high points, some challenges and suggestions for the coming years. Sparling explained that fire protection services provided by North Huron ended in 2016 well over the estimated number of calls that he used as a basis for the budget. "The budget is set at 130 calls, and in 2016 we had 171," he said. "Most of them were working fires, which we define as fires that require hoses to be taken off the truck" Sparling said he wanted to remind council members to thank their local A monumental game Local OPP officers, known on the ice as the Huron OPP Ice Hogs, took on the Smoke Eaters, also known as members of the Huron East Fire Department, on Saturday as a means of raising funds for Victim Services of Huron County. The game attracted plenty of spectators to the Seaforth and District Community Centre. Julie Sawchuk from the Blyth area was on hand to drop the puck. From left: Mark Gransden of the OPP, Oliver Sawchuk, Julie Sawchuk, OPP Detachment Commander Jason Younan, Huron East Fire Chief Marty Bedard and Ken Higgins from the Brussels station of the fire department. (Denny Scott photo) employers for allowing the firefighters to be a part of the department. "Over 70 per cent of the fire calls in 2016 happened during the work day," he said. "Without the support of employers, our firefighters wouldn't be here" Sparling said that Morris- Turnberry's automatic aid agreements with surrounding municipalities has led to a safer reality for its ratepayers as well as an easier job for himself and his incoming replacement, Ryan Ladner. As for the growth in calls, Sparling said that alarm calls are going up including false alarm situations that result in higher numbers than normal. "The majority of calls can be broken down into three categories," he explained. "We have alarm or system false activations, medical calls or working fire calls. The working fire calls are the most expensive and longest calls, Sparling said, saying that the Turnberry ward had seen an increase in these calls as a result of stolen vehicles being abandoned and set ablaze. "There was one intersection in Turnberry where three vehicle fires were dealt with," he said. In conclusion, Sparling said he had found Morris-Turnberry and its council very reasonable to work with. He said he is looking forward to seeing his replacement do a great job with Morris-Turnberry. The reports from Marshall and Sparling were accepted by council. 911 BLADE PROJECT As for the future, Sparling suggested that Morris-Turnberry look to a project that North Huron had undertaken at his suggestion. He explained that, with so many farms without homes or buildings on them, 911 numbers were often unknown and that can cause a significant challenge for emergency responders. "When people call 911, they are talking to a dispatcher [from London or Owen Sound]," he said. "If a person doesn't know their 911 number or if there is no 911 blade, it can be difficult for emergency services to respond." The blades are the signs that have a property's 911 number printed on it which are affixed near driveways. Sparling shared North Huron resident Luke Schilder's story. Schilder spoke to North Huron Township Council after his son had been seriously injured while farming. The incident happened at the back of a farm and Schilder wasn't immediately able to give an address. As a result of the situation, Sparling, along with a co-op student, got the GPS coordinates for farm driveways that weren't identified by a 911 blade and tried to get them all marked. "We drove around during bean harvest to see which driveways needed identification," he said. "The county provides the 911 blades and we were able to mark 400 driveways." Sparling said he was a big fan of the project because it benefitted not only emergency services and dispatchers but ratepayers as well. "I encourage you to look at the possibility of a similar program for your farm and rural addresses," he said. 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