The Citizen, 1999-09-22, Page 3Ready for study
Prior to the Sept. 14 emergency response training course, ROVER was tipped over on its side
at Blyth and District Community Centre. The propane tanker was used to train firefighters and
emergency workers how to deal with a similar accident.
Firefighters get unique training
By Janice Becker
Citizen staff
Dozens of firefighters were
bowled over by ROVER last week
when they saw it turned on its side.
Sparling’s Propane, in conjunction
with the Ontario Propane
Association, hosted 105 firefighters
and emergency response personnel
from across midwestem Ontario for
Emergency Response Training at the
Blyth and District Community
Centre and fairgrounds. Sept. 14.
Begun in 1987 by BP Amoco, the
company takes its unique Roll Over
Vehicle for Emergency Response
(ROVER) to centres throughout
Canada, the United States and
Mexico to teach emergency workers
how to handle dangerous situations.
“Sometimes it is just as important
to know what not to do as what to
do,” said Gary Zimmer, rail safety
co-ordinator with BP Amoco Oil,
Palatine, IL.
ROVER, the tank used in Blyth, is
a specially-designed and constructed
propane tank trailer built to give
emergency response personnel a bet
ter understanding of the valves, pip
ing and fittings found on any
propane tank trailer. However, what
makes ROVER different is that it is
rolled over using wrecker-cranes,
and then opened up to allow atten
dees to climb inside the tank. They
have the opportunity to see first
hand the safety features and cut
away liquid and pressure valves.
BP Amoco also has a gas tanker
named Sidekick and a rail tank car
called Safety Train.
In-class topics included trans
portation issues, compressed gas
properties, damage assessment and
response procedures.
Zimmer said the program began to
teach the company’s own employees
how to handle the hazard. However,
requests soon began to come from
outside sources seeking the training.
Today, 85 per cent of those trained
are not Amoco workers.
This is the only training course of
its kind in North America.
With firefighters attending the
Blyth session from as far away as
north Toronto, Zimmer credits
Sparling’s Propane with pulling the
day-long program together.
Sparling’s is an industry leader in
Emergency Response planning, and
has maintained its own federally
approved Emergency Response Plan
and Team, for 15 years. In 1996, the
Sparling’s Plan was adopted by the
propane industry and became the
basis of the Emergency Response
Plan now in effect across Ontario
and Quebec.
Sparling’s took a unique approach
in guaranteeing full participation in
the expensive undertaking.
With the costs of the
$10,000/week venture covered by
the sponsoring companies, there is
no registration fee for the course.
However, Sparling’s asked for $10
which would be returned when reg
istrants arrived for the class.
“Sparling’s said there would be 30
here for the morning course and
there were 30,” said Zimmer.
The Blyth day featured three
classes, each four hours in duration.
In its 12-year history, the BP
Amoco course has trained 30,000 to
40,000 emergency workers and
company employees, said Zimmer.
“The course has been very well
received,” he said. “ It makes it all
worthwhile when someone calls and
tells us the training they received
came back to them in an emer
gency.”
Zimmer was very pleased with the
response from the firefighters.
“They are an instructor’s dream. We
go down the learning trail together.
Its great.”
Because this is a one of a kind pro
gram, Zimmer said BP Amoco does
this as a community service.
“Firefighters don’t get this type of
training so we want to offer it. It is
win-win for everyone.”
“It was a big success,” said Blyth
Fire Chief Paul Josling. “Fifteen
firefighters from Blyth took the
course and there were members
from every department in Huron
County there.”
Having attended a similar course
in Sarnia last year with Lieutenant
Vernon Bromley, Josling said-they
thought it would be good training to
bring to Blyth.
It is hoped a stopover by Sidekick,
the gas tanker, can be fit into the BP
Amoco’s training schedule.
After leaving Blyth, the BP
Amoco crew moved to Guelph for a
Thursday session.
Congratulations
& Thanks
To Coaches and
Volunteers for making
the 1999 season a
success
Thank you to Blyth Legion,
Ladies' Auxiliary, Optimist
Club of Blyth, and the Blyth
Lions Club for their
generous donations.
New Executive needed
for 2000
Blyth Minor Softball
THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 1999. PAGE 3.
Car stolen
On Sept. 8, shortly after 8 a.m. a
theft was reported from a home on
Cone. 6 in East Wawanosh Twp.
The owner told police that
sometime through the night after
midnight and before 7 a.m. a
person entered their unlocked home
and stole cash over $3,000.
The money was taken from
several locations inside the home
while the occupants were sleeping.
The Huron OPP Detachment
requires the public’s help in finding
the persons responsible. If anyone
knows of someone who has come
into possession of a large sum of
money or a person who has turned
in a lot of rolled coins please call
the Huron OPP or call Crime
Stoppers at l-800-222-8477(TIPS).
AUXILIARY
PENNY
SALE
at
St. Paul's Anglican Parish
Hall
Clinton
Sept. 23 - Oct. 2, 1999
Open Monday to Thursday
and Saturday
10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Friday 10 a.m. - 9 p.m.
Sale closing
12 noon Sat. Oct. 2
Draw Date
Sat. Oct. 2, 12:30 p.m.
Tickets 50e
Proceeds:
Clinton Public Hospital
Story Hour/Little Lambs
Fun, Discovery, and Bible-Centered Learning!
• Story Hour: ages 4-6
• Little Lambs: ages 2 & 3
Blyth Christian Reformed Church
Wednesdays 9:45 a.m. -11:40 a.m.
beginning Sept. 29
Please arrive early the first morning to register your children
For more information call Anita Boven 523-9492
www.arthritis.ca
VILLAGE OF BLYTH
TAX INSTALMENT DUE
The third instalment for
Residential property taxes
for the Village of Blyth is due
on Monday, September 27,
1999. The interim instalment
of Commercial, Industrial &
Multi-Residential property
taxes for the Village of
Blyth is due on Thursday,
September 30, 1999. Pay
ment may be made at the
Blyth Branch of the CIBC or
at the Municipal Office.
Interest at 1 1/4% per month
or any part thereof shall be
charged after the due date.
People who have acquired
properties and have not
received a tax bill should
contact the Municipal Office.
Failure to receive a tax bill
does not relieve a taxpayer
from responsibility for
payment of taxes, nor from
penalty for late payment.
John Stewart, CMO
Tax Collector
Village of Blyth
FLUSHING OF
HYDRANTS
The Village of Blyth Public
Works Department will be
flushing fire hydrants on
Tuesday, September 28,
1999 commencing at 9 a.m.
Rain date September 29.
Your co-operation is greatly
appreciated.
The Executive of the Huron Pioneer Threshers and
Hobby Association would like to sincerely thank
"Everyone" who contributed in anyway to make our
1999 show a success. A special thanks to all who
helped at the arena Saturday night, the arena
manager and his helpers. Bill Bromley, Carl Nesbitt,
Darryl and Lyle Youngblut, and the musicians.
It takes hours of hard work, and co-operation, but the
reward and the success of the show was certainly
seen by all this past weekend. Hard work makes for
good times and, fellowship. This is the major key to
our success, and of course the weather was certainly
a major contributing factor again.
Coffee (Brecf
A Community Bible Study
• Share questions and concerns
Enjoy friendship and refreshments
No previous Bible knowledge necessary
Blyth United Church
Wednesdays 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
beginning Sept. 29
Nursery & Children's programs available at
Christian Reformed Church
Call Joanne VanAmersfoort 523-4202 for more information
r
Evening program
at Femmy VanAmersfoort's home
Wednesdays 7:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Please call Femmy 523-9457 if you are interested in
the evening program