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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1997-09-10, Page 8PAGE 8. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10,1997. What change will 9-1-1 bring, residents ask By Janice Becker Citizen staff The implementation and running of 9-1-1 was discussed at the Sept. 2 meeting in Brussels, between Morris Twp. council, the fire chiefs of Blyth, Wingham and Brussels as well as more than 70 concerned residents. The line defining dispatch areas between Blyth and Wingham was to be determined for the 9-1-1 sys­ tem which is to be implemented in approximately one year. For the south section, the system would remain as it is. The 9-1-1 call would go to a communication centre in Sudbury or Ottawa. The type of assistance needed would be determined, then the call would be relayed to Seaforth which would dispatch Brussels then Blyth. Fire debate a misunderstanding, rep says Continued from page 1 though Brussels firehall was less than one mile away. "There seems to be some misun­ derstanding as to who responds first," said Les Trowsdale, the Ontario Fire Marshall’s office rep­ resentative. Repeatedly, Wingham Fire Chief Harley Gaunt, Blyth Fire Chief Paul Josling and Trowsdale, told residents Brussels would still be the first response fire department, as they always had been. However, Gaunt pointed out, under the agreement for service with Morris Twp., Wingham department had to be called in on all calls in the north section of the response area. Wingham and Blyth departments are called in for back up in a sec­ tion of Morris Twp. because it is out of the reach of hydrants and the Brussels department does not have a tanker for a constant water sup­ ply. The area of concern is bor­ dered by County Road 12, Sideroad 20-21, the southern lots of Cone. 4 and the northern lots of Conc.7, Morris Reeve Bert Elliott said, "Council is just trying to provide the best protection for the resi­ dents." Since Brussels became part of the Seaforth dispatch area about a year and a half ago, fire calls go to the Seaforth centre, with the Brussels department dispatched immediate­ ly. In the southern section, Blyth would receive the call from Seaforth five seconds later, as they are on the same dispatch service. For the northern section, a mem­ ber of the Brussels department was to contact Wingham by phone, to inform them of the call. Wingham is their own dispatch centre and is not hooked in with Seaforth. When asked why Wing ham was not connected to Seaforth, Gaunt told the audience he had contacted them a year ago about making the call and said it could only be done with the installation of a dedicated phone line and a change to Wing- ham dispatch equipment. "I cannot see the fire area board affected, agreeing to the cost when we can dispatch ourselves," said Gaunt. Some residents indicated this option should be looked at so Wingham would receive the call automatically, such as Blyth does. When suggested by Brussels Councillor Joe Seili, who repre­ sents council on the fire area board, that the dispatch area be changed so The only difference for the north­ ern area would be that the commu­ nication centre would relay the call to Wingham department, which would then contact Brussels. There would not be the third call as their trucks would already be dispatched. Trying to eliminate the concern over who would determine if Brus­ sels got the call if the 9-1-1 call went through Wingham, Les Trowsdale, a representative of the Ontario Fire Marshall’s office, said there is no one who "decides”. "It is written in the agreement (with Morris Twp.) that Wingham must call Brussels for first response. Harley Gaunt (Wingham Fire Chief) is hired by the munici­ palities. He does as he is told. The municipalities are in charge. The department is formed to operate and manage the system on behalf of the municipalities. Chiefs do not Sorting out the first response fire areas Fire Marshall Les Trowsdale, standing, spoke to a large gathering at BMG Community Centre in Brussels, Sept. 2, in an effort to clear up the confusion surrounding the operation of the Brussels, Blyth and Wingham fire departments as well as the impending 9-1-1 system. all of the Brussels response area goes through Seaforth, Trowsdale said the service would be "abso­ lutely the same thing." "What is the difference if Seaforth or Wingham calls you out," Trowsdale questioned the firefighters in attendance. With regards to the current sys­ tem where Brussels department is to dispatch Wingham, Trowsdale said, "I don’t see the problem. I don’t understand why two or three calls a years can’t be made." When concern was raised about the extra five minutes it takes to make the phone call to Wingham and the much-advertised fact that every second counts in a fire, Trowsdale simply said, "Don’t you leave someone at the station to work the radio. Send the trucks out, then make the call." "There is nothing wrong with this system and I don’t even know why I am here," he said. Brussels Reeve Gord Workman said, "The agreement with Morris Twp. has worked for many years and I don’t know why it won’t work now. I would like this settled for all time." In a letter to Morris Twp. coun­ cil, Max Oldfield wrote that the problem was a "sparring for power" between the fire departments. "I just want the closest and fastest protection," he said. "We need to get all the fire departments to work together." Morris Twp. council held a meet­ ing Sept. 3 to discuss the 9-1-1 dis­ patch system. The decision was deferred to another meeting until such time as council has obtained information on the cost of having Seaforth dis­ patch Wingham, said Morris Clerk- Treasurer Nancy Michie. 9-1-1 address is immediately dis­ played on the screen at the dispatch centre. If the caller is unable to respond to the operator, assistance is sent to the address. Josling said it has yet to be deter­ mined whether all services, fire, ambulance and police, will be sent or just the police first. Determining the location of an emergency will also be easier, par­ ticularly in rural areas, which previ­ ously had no number posted. Each residence and farm will have an identifying number and roads have been assigned names. Brussels area resident Sue Gow- ing expressed concern that the 9-1- 1 number will not be located close to her home, on Cone. 5, but rather off distant Elm Street, in Brussels. Wingham Fire Chief Harley Gaunt explained that the depart­ ment knows where Gowings live. Q-Q-Quick! 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If it does not kick in, the main communication centre in Sudbury or Ottawa would then relay the information to another location. All of these transfers happen in a matter of seconds, said Josling. The 9-1-1 system also has the advantage of not needing verbal confirmation of an address. When the number is dialed, the five-digit, I It Residents ponder 9-1-1 system Residents at the fire area meet­ ing in Brussels, Sept. 2, sought explanations for several concerns. They asked why the Wingham or Blyth fire chiefs had to attend a fire even if Brussels had put the “wingham Fire Chief Harley Gaunt replied, I am responsible for the area. It is my neck stuck I There was also coi the possibility of increased insur­ ance rates with a change to the, Keith Mulvey of Cardiff and Mulvey Real Estate and Insurance Ltd, said fire insurance rates could rise 25 to 50 per cent any­place beyond a 14-rSe radius of a fire station. However, residents were told no rates should change as the fire areas and responding departments are remaining the same. Concerning medical emergen­ cies, Gaunt said the calls are dis­ patched through London and Blyth has first response. Some residents questioned whether the Brussels first response area should be enlarged as several homes and farms out- side their coverage area are still closer to Brussels than the other departments. Fire Marshall Les Trowsdale explained the system in Essex County where the closest depart- ment to the fire, is first response. However, he said that type of sys­ tem would have to be implement- ed county-wide. MAKE YOUR HOME A COMFORT ZONE Natural Gas Furnaces No payments until March’98+ Convenient billing options* MONTGOMERY'S Comfort Centre Ltd. P.O. Box 368. R.R. #5 Wingham, Ontario NOG 2W0 Just south of 519-357-4300 phone Wingham 519-357-4294 fax HEATING DEALER o iniongas energy for you