Georgina Fire Department celebrates donation, open house

YorkRegion.com
Sept. 18, 2017
Heidi Riedner

In a fire, seconds count.

Seconds can mean the difference between escaping safely or having lives end in tragedy.

That’s why this year’s Fire Prevention Week theme, “Every Second Counts: Plan 2 Ways Out,” is so important.

“Fire and smoke move faster than you,” Georgina Fire Chief Ron Jenkins said. “There’s no time to figure out how to escape your home after a fire starts, so you need to practise an escape plan before there’s a fire so you can get out safely.”

Simple steps practised ahead of time can make all the difference, such as assigning someone to help anyone in the home who requires assistance getting out, such as small children or older adults; knowing two ways out of all areas if possible, and identifying a safe meeting place outside.

Make sure everyone in the home knows the sound of the smoke alarm, which should be on every storey of the home and outside all sleeping areas.

And always call the fire department from outside the home — from a neighbour’s home or a cellphone.

You can find out more valuable tips during the Georgina Fire Department’s open house this Saturday, Sept. 23, at the Sutton fire hall.

Running from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., the event will include a free pancake breakfast and barbecue, interactive stations, various community partners and a live burn demonstration at 12:30 p.m.

The event comes on the heels of a $5,000 donation to the Georgina fire department last week from a joint program between Enbridge Gas and the Fire Marshal’s Public Safety Council.

Project Assist donated a total $100,000 between 20 fire departments in the province this year.

Ongoing firefighter training enables fire departments to deliver emergency services efficiently and to ensure firefighter safety is maintained, Gary Laframboise, of the Fire Marshal’s Public Fire Safety Council, said during a presentation at the Keswick fire hall Sept. 13.

Support “is very helpful to the fire departments that receive it and the volunteer firefighters who benefit from these educational resources,” Laframboise added.

The funds provided by Enbridge through Project Assist will assist Georgina Fire to continue to meet the training needs of the department, Chief Jenkins said.

“It will also allow us to continue to provide an effective and safe emergency response in our growing community.”

Mayor Margaret Quirk said council is appreciative of any donation that is made to the town, adding that members of council had a first-hand look at some of the scenarios that firefighters are put through on a regular basis during the department’s Fire Ops day earlier this year.

“It is a tough and challenging job, and any time that we can improve the safety of our firefighters through training, and ultimately our residents, it’s a win for us all.”

Since the launch of Project Assist in 2012, 86 Ontario fire departments have received additional firefighter training.