The Goderich Signal-Star, 1984-09-05, Page 311
•r,
Harold Leddy of Goderich is shown in his traditional chimney sweep's outfit. He doesn't
usually wear it on the job as it would get pretty dirty. Harold says being a chimney sweep is
a good part-time occupation --especially for someone who is not afraid of heights as the
photo at the left shows ►. He has been working at it for the past four years. (Photos by Joanne
Ruchanani
Chimney sweep prevents fires
BY JOANNE BUCHANAN
It's a dirty job but somebody's got to do it.
• tV That could be chimney sweep Harold
Leddy's motto. -
Harold took up his unusual occupation
part-time four years ago. It seemed -like a
natural progression from his full-time job as
a firefighter at Douglas Point and his
volunteer job as a firefighter for the Town of
Goderich.
In 1980 when Harold first launched his
Lakeshore Chimney Sweep 'business, he
remembers that there were 23 chimney fires
in the town of Goderich in the month of
January alone.: With statistics like that, he
had decided there was a serious need for a
chimney sweep service in the area and his
next step was to learn the business by taking
a course from Aaran Chimney Sweeps in
Newmarket. He has since attended two
conferences, sponsored by the Chimney
Sweeps Association of Canada, where he has
been updated on the latest techniques for
cleaning chimneys.
Besides his ladders and truck, Harold has
about $2,000 invested in stiff -wired brushes,
a special vacuum cleaner and tools for
getting in behind dampers, etc.
Chimney fires are caused by a build-up of -
creosote -a black tar -like substance formed
when steam from burning wood mixes with
various gases and condenses. The chimney
sweep removes this build-up of creosote by
ON THE JOB
pushing or sweeping it off the flue with his
brushes and then vacuuming it up.
Harold says the 'Ontario Fire Marshal's.
Office recommends that people using wood
burning stoves and fireplaces should clean
their chimneys or have them cleaned at
least once a year. He predicts there will
come a day when insurance . companies
insist on it and governments begin to
regulate it.
The best protection against a chimney fire
is prevention by using common sense; says
Harald.
"Wood burning stoves have made a'come-
back and are a -great energy saver -I have.
-one myself -but this generation doesn't
know how to use them properly," he
explains. -
He says people shouldn't use a lot of green
wood or wet wood in their stoves and
fireplaces. And they shouldn't use them as
incinerators. They should a1So buy the
proper sized stoves for the areas they are
trying to heat. Otherwise, the dampers get
closed down and the excess gases don't get
burned up.
Harold says peoplercan check the build-up
of creosote in their chimneys themselves by
putting a mirror at the bottom and looking
up.
"All you have to do to prevent fire is keep
your chimney from getting di'{rty ' and
dangerous," he says. However, ,he also
recommends that people kelp fire
extinguishers handy, smoke detectors in
place and the local fire department's phone
number nearby.
"If a fire does start, get everyone out of
the house, call the fire department, shut all.
doors and dampers to cut off the air flow and
dampen down the surrounding curtains,
carpet, etc," he says.
Harold's business is picking up ell the
time and many of his calls take him out of
town to places like Exeter, Grand Bendd'1
Ilensall. He charges between $25 and ,
depending on • the difficulty of the jo .
Sometimes, a chimney won't need cleaning
at all but at least the owners have the peace
of mind that comes from knowing it's been
checked out. Other times, Harold has found
himself doing the unusual by removing
bird's nests and even mallard ducks from
chimneys.
Although he has seen homes destroyed
and lives lost in fires that might have been
prevented, Harold says he won't use scare
tactics to drum up business. He simpi'
wants to let people know that his service is
available and let them take it from there.
Ws time
to talk business
Visit us''i.n the Go Crich ; ora
EVERY TUESDAY
Yolur Representative:
BO6IAAOCLINCH'EWY
•
An FBDB representative will be in
your area soon. Colne and meet him
or her. There is no obligation and no
costs and your business can gain a
lot from it.
If you're looking for financial aid in
the form of loans, loan'guarantees or
even selling an equity position in .
your business, come and discuss it
with us. We have experienced
counsellors who can help youplot a
course for growth and success for
-.y.o.ur-bossiness.-And-we.can provide
you with direction to get government
assistance, both federal and provin-
cial, as well as other vital information.
For an advance appoi.ntrrierrt; call �•.
(519) 271-5650 (collect)
or write: 1036 Ontario Street
P.O. Eiox 878
Stratford, Ontario
N5A 6W3
La Banque ollre ses services dans les deux
langues othc,e!les.
BACKING INDEPENDENT BUSINESS
40
Federal Business Banque federate
Development Bank de developpement
Canad5
Town will not sell land for shelter
The town of Goderich will not sell land on
Suncoast Drive to the Ontario Humane
Society to construct an animal shelter.'
At its meeting August 15, council voted
to inform the Humane Society that it was
not interested in selling the land in
question for the construction of an animal
shelter.
In March of this year, council decided
not sell a parcel of land td the Society,
adjacent to Suncoast Enterprises,
claiming the land was too .valuable to be
used for a shelter. The decision was made
after the town's planning and economic
development committees suggested the
use of the land as an animalshelter did not
fulfill the objectives the committee had in
mind for the industrial land.
Councillors have suggested that if a
shelter is required in 1-pron County, it
could be located in another town or a rural
location.
In a letter to council, T. I. Hughes,
executive vice-president of the Ontario
Humane Society. asked council to
reconsider its position and if it was nfot
prepared to sell the land in question, to
offer another piece of property.
Councillor Bill Clifford questioned
council's reaction to the request and
wondered if an alternate site could be
considered.
"If we are concerned what it looks like
we could suggest another location. I'm
sure they would come to see us," he said,
•'I would hate to see them bluntly slapped
down. Surely we're not saying we just
don't want them."
Councillor Jim Searls countered that the
services of the Ontario Humane Society
were not required in Goderich adding that
they could locate elsewhere.
"We don't need the society. Huron
('ount • might but Goderich doesn't need a
shelter. They can apply to another town,"
he said.
in his letter. Hughes told council that
"there is a very real need for a shelter in
Goderich," and that a lot of people had
worked hard to encourage the construction
of a shelter. in commenting on the value of
the land. Hughes said that shelters are
designed to ensure that they ,do not create
a nuisance of any kind and architecturally,
are designed to enhance and fit into almost
any community.
"For example, we have 38 shelters at
present in Ontario. Most of them are
located in areas which are adjacent to
residential developments or, in some
cases, surrounded by residential property.
There is a common misconception that an
animal shelter is some sort of dog pound
• which creates a nuisance either by nose or
cxlour.
"With ith respect, this is rather old
fashioned and hasn't applied for at least 20
years. We can design an animal shelter to
enhance any area and to` avoid' any
possible nuisance."
While the shelters operated by the
society are not large employment
generators, Hughes said that local people
are generally hired as staff to conduct the
business of the stfSelter. Some operations
are conducted exclusively by voluntary
personnel.
Hughes suggested he would appear
before council to discuss the matter.
('ouncil opted to reaffirm its position.
Plan public meeting on zoning bylaw
in the planning and preparatory stages
for over two years, the draft zoning bylaw
for the town of Goderich is finally
complete. The town's planning board and
later the planning advisory committee has
worked diligently oh the document,
meeting weekly. ' On. Wednesday,
September 5, the Huron County Planning
Department will be hosting a open house at'
MacKay Hall from 2 to 8 p.m. in
conjunction with the town of Goderich to
discuss the planning document. Planner
Malcolm McIntosh told council that
anyone having concerns about the draft
zoning bylaw should present those
concerns, preferably in writing.
More boats
•Total sales at the Goderich Marina were
down slightly for the period ending August
7 compared to the same period for 1983.
Sales amounted to $'27,312 for 1984
compared to $29,598 for 1983. However,
during the same time period„ 210 boats
visited the municipal marina carrying 545
persons. For the same period in 1983, 501
persons visited the port in 180 boats.
Value down
Building figures released from the office
of the town building inspector indicated
that both the numberof permits and the
dollar value of construction is down
drastically from 1983. To July 31, 1984 a
total of 103 permits were issued for the
year valued at $1.1 million. For the same
period last year, 131 perrnits, valued at
$2.2 million, were issued by the building
department. The biggest difference is in
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