HomeMy WebLinkAboutLakeshore Advance, 2013-02-27, Page 7Wednesday, February 27, 2013 • Lakeshore Advance 7
It may be time for one Lambton Shores fire department
Heather Wright
Lakeshore Advance
An official from the Fire Mar-
shall's says may be time for Lamb -
ton Shores to amalgamate its five
fire departments.
Dennis Gaggon, operations
manager for the region in the Fire
Marshal's office, was asked to
come to talk to councilors about
how the fire board works after
some members of council were
concerned about a perceived lack
of control of decision making by
the municipal council. The fire
board recently decided to buy a
new fire truck for Forest and delay
other projects to help pay for it.
Gaggon says Lambton Shores
governing structure is unusual in
the province.
"Fire boards are disappearing,"
Gaggon told councilors adding
"municipalities are taking control
of their fire departments."
But Lambton Shores has a
unique situation with South 1luron
having a voting menthe(on the
Lambton Shores fire hoard, a set
up Gaggon acknowledged was
okay as long as Lampton Shores
follows its bylaws. "We're not going
to tell you that you need to do one
thing or another - it's your
decision."
But Gaggon suggested this may
be the time to look at the structure
of the local department and con-
sider forming one department
with one chief and five separate
stations. "Froin a business stand
point it would probably he easier
one budget.'
Gaggon says when I.nmhton
Shores amalgamated, it wasn't the
right time to merge the depart-
ments. "You had a lot on your plate
and...if it wasn't broke, don't fix it,"
he says. But Gaggon says other
departments who have amalga-
mated have found efficiencies in
administration and were more
effective in their public education
- a key element to bring down the
number of fire deaths in Ontario.
"'lie best prarticl' in 2013 is our
department, tvith one fire chiet
and with as many firefighters as
you need."
Lampton Shores Mayor Bill
Weber says the five fire chiefs do
work together now, buying com-
mon equipment, working together
on joint training and most recently
compiling 11 standard operating
procedure for all departments.
Deputy Mayor Elizabeth Davis
1)agg wondered if amalgamating
would actually save money. "In
our situation, the work is getting
done well; the bottom Zine to the Is
what would be the cost of consoll
dating into one service? Is it saving
costs or will it cost more to hire a
full-time fire chief?"
Gaggon says 1.uinhton Shores
wouldn't need 10 rind a full time
chief adding "there are more effi.
ciencies in risk management by
becoming one department"
'Ike lire chief is responsible, for
example for fire prevention serv-
ices, Gaggon says. In 1 .a in ht on
Shores, the municipality hires
someone to provide fire preven-
tion services, but the fire chief is
ultimately responsible for that
work. With five chiefs, Gaggon says
it becomes confusing. "Who Is
checking what they're doing?"
While there was some interest in
the idea, councilors were more
concerned about the structure of
the fire hoard and haw it reports to
council.
"As Tong as we're communicat-
illg, we'1'1' tllte,' tiny` Councilor
Alantin Underwood. "'1he makeup
of the hoard is a little off."
Councilor I)oug Itonesteel
agreed. "'1his council has to decide
tltr governance; if the current fire
board is efficient and effective as
possible,' he says, adding he's con-
cerned the Lire hoard is able to
make decisions which council has
little authority to change.
Council has asked the fire hoard
to talk about the issue and come
hack to council in three months
with its thoughts.
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Heather Wright
Dennis Gaggon, Ontario Fire
Marshal's Office
Paid for by the Government of Ontario
i7Ontario