The Wingham Advance-Times, 1972-10-05, Page 14Page 6 - The Wingham Advance -Times,
Thutsday October 5 197 trerr..e:n
operation of their
6 DEPUTY FIRE CHIEF Jirrr Carr keeps in radio com-
munication with Wingham fire hall from the pumper truck
in a demonstration of the newly -installed 30 -watt Motorola
shortwave equipment which makes the Wingham depart-
ment one of the most modern in the area. Blyth has the only
other radio -equipped department In Huron. Harley Gaunt is
the driver in background. (Staff Photo)
By Art Elliott
Any Wingham family with a
fireman as one of the household is
probably kept well aware of what
a unique organization Wingham
Fire Department is. Listen to a
Wingham fireman for two
minutes and you'll learn it's one
of .the best in the country. Next
week being Fire Prevention
Week in Canada, it's just as'good
a time as any for everyone to be
made aware of the department's
special qualities.
A properly organized fire de-
partment was established here MI
the late 1800's and has been
operating conti•nuouslyi since
then. Some of the historical re-
search reveals a petition to town
council in 1913 for a couple of
spittoons for the tobacco-chawing
firemen. They were purchased a4.'
the then staggering cost of $1
each. Only a few years later the
farce was petitioning council to
pay the cost -of boots and mitts, no.
less.
ice. The loyalty is strong, and
once in the department the boys
generally stay.
Three of them have stayed fpr
90 years in total. They are Chief
Dave Crothers, Deputy Chief Jim
Carr and Harvey Aitcheson, and
their long service was recognized
two years ago at an investiture at
Gravenhurst, when suitable
medals were presented.
Wingham is believed to be the
first to organize a eo-operative
fire protection area with the sur-
rounding townships and has had
an arrangement since the
Team Spirit
Amusing historical sidelights
are all very well, but the--)
volunteer firemen are faced with
demanding tasks and downright
danger and have a real teani
spirit in their dedication to this
rugged form of community serv-
FIRE CHIEF DAVE CROTHJERS •jots down particulars of•fire t all as it omes•to Firernan
f � 1 . •' F ., t.i. �' 1, �
Lynn Hickey, over the telephone. The°klackboard messaige� a'dvi es. firemen location of fire
as they respond to the siren call. Wingham brigade needs at least six more volunteers and
would be glad to hear of anyone interested, especially those employed hear the fire hall
and available during business hours (Sf iff Ph:.+ri
•
RADIO COMMUNICATION from Wingham fire hall to two pumper trucks and the tanker
has been established. Here in the radio room Fireman Wes Simmons talks. to one of the
mobile units as Fire Chief Dave Crothersalooks on. (Staff Photo)
early 50's.
Costs of the operation are
shared by the townships of East
Wawanosh, IVlorris, Turnberry,
Howick and Wingham, resulting
in immediate response to calls
for help from those areas. In fact
a run to Belgrave Tuesday was
under way as this article was
being written.
Major fires in Wingham have
been the loss of the Brunswick
Hotel in, November of 1958;
CKNX Radio and TV station in
1962; Burke Electric in 1964 and
Beaver Lumber, including the
epartmeg t
CNR freight shed in 1966.
Saved Thousands
Prompt responses by the Wing.
ham Fire Department have with-
out question saved untold
thousands in property damage
and no doubt saved lives 'that
could conceivably have been lost
in residential or industrial fires.
At this particular time, as evi-
denced by articles elsewhere in
this issue of The Advance -Times,
Wingham Fire Department and
the Town of Wingham urges
every citizen to inspect business
and residential premises and
take prompt action to eliminate\
potential,fire hazards.
At least half a dozen more fire-
men could easily be fitted into the,
organization too, especially men
who are employed near the fire
hall and would be available dur-
ing normal business hours. It's a
challenging job, ,with interesting
work and good fellloyrship, and
even a modest scale of pay for
meetings and fire attendance.
Anyone ' interested is urged, to
Contact • Chief Dave Crothers or
any 'member of the brigade.
Rees
It
"r.o;;Z4V9 7441, 11-04 0443040010
R R 1F,Alt It
'I nyou g sagas'�,- t arc • gond WWII.
A renowned 034 )00* 11103
found a unique heelint
that promptlyeves the burning
itch' and ppan+--actually shrink!
p
hemerrboide, This .uibrtance has
been shownht uce a Most e>p-
Live rate of . Ita germ -k1111011 .
properties also help pravbt
Infection.
In .Case after case "very
improvement" was no , oven
among cases of long, *Wading. . And •
this improvement was maint*lned
over a period of month.l
This was aecomPlished byr a now
healing substance (Bio-Dyne)—
which quickly. help. heal r cared
cells and stimulate .growth__ new
tissue: Now Bio -Dyne is offend_ in
ointment, and sup��itor�r 'form
called Preparation "II". Ask fee it
at all ,drug stores --satisfaction or
money refunded.
Do You Know What to Do in Case of
0
If a fire breaks out in your home,
get out fast — with your family.
Fire can spread faster than you
can run.
If you find smoke in an open
stairway . 'or open hall, use
another preplanned way out.
Teach your children how to use
the phone to report a fire.
Make sure children can open
doors, windows and screens to
escape routes.
Make sure your family knows
the quickest and safest ways to
escape from every room m the
house. s
DON'T fight a fire yourself.
If you are trapped In a smoke-
filledroom, stay near the floor,
where the air is better.
DON'T jump. Many people
have jumped and died -- with-
out realizing rescue was just a
few. minutes away.
ti
i
Your Fire Department Number
357-213.1
Ask, Chief Dave Crothers or a member of the Fire Department fora telephone
sticker. 'Be prepared for quick telephone number reference. H
This message is brought tobythe foll 'gyou owing Wingham fir
Theyoffer as well,sincere thanks to the
men cabs_ re n call
365 days a year to protect their property in casefire.o
THE MEMBERS OF THE WINGHAM FIRE DEPARTMENT
WALTER'S
BEAVER LUMBER
CO. LTD., Wingham
ALEXANDER'S HARDWARE
ANDGIFT CENTRE
LEN CRAWFORD MOTORS
Chrysler - Dodge • Plymouth
WINGHAM
WINGHAM MOTEL
Hwy. 4, 357_1342
WINGHAM BODY SHOP
14 North E., 357-112
LEE'S TAVERN
AND RESTAURANT
CANADIAN TIRE
Fire Extinguishers for Farm, Shop, Home
From $1.28 to $16.98
BENNETT'S
Se - $1 STORE
BROPHY BROS.
Complete Tiro Service
WINGHAM
CURRIE'S FURNITURE
Wingham
WINGHAM • MEMORIALS
348 Josephine 357-1910
LEE VANCE LIMITED
Your Wingham Pharmacist
Phone 357-2170
IDEAL SUPPLY
CO. LTD.
BATESON'S
MODELDAIRY
BRIDGE MOTORS
Wingham, - Brussels
CALLAN SHOES
Wingham
THE DECOR SHOPPE
Wingharn
WINGHAM DRIVE-IN
11 pi.go .CLEANERS 3„.3750
MANOR HOTEL
Wingham
ADVANCE -TIMES
357-2346
4