The Moose Jaw Fire Department and its emergency-related partners engage in regular training to prepare for major issues that could negatively affect the community, according to the fire chief.
The department, senior staff from the City of Moose Jaw, and the community’s emergency management office (EMO) co-ordinator participated in a tabletop scenario during the fourth quarter last year on how each partner would respond to a winter storm, Fire Chief Rod Montgomery explained. They also discussed how they would address a massive power outage.
“It went really well on how we do that. So we do continue to work on those types of things,” Montgomery told city council during its most recent regular meeting.
A report on the activities of city hall departments for the fourth quarter of 2019 was presented during city council’s recent regular meeting. Council voted 6-1 to receive and file the report; Coun. Brian Swanson was opposed.
Mayor Fraser Tolmie wondered what type of emergency plan Moose Jaw had if a rail disaster or fire conflagration happened since similar issues have hit other Saskatchewan communities recently. He pointed out there is a binder in his office for emergency preparedness and he was curious about how often it is reviewed.
The deputy fire chief is responsible for co-ordinating EMO situations, said Montgomery. That preparedness binder has been slimmed down so it provides an all-purpose response. There is a template in place to respond to any situation, whether it’s fire, bus crash or hazardous materials.
It provides a straightforward approach to working with other agencies, he added. The fire department works with EMS and augments what that organization does. EMS looks after most medical emergencies, while firefighters respond to traumas and heart attacks.
Both agencies have worked together since the 1990s after an agreement was signed with the former health region.
Highlights
The department took delivery of a new engine from Fort Garry Fire Trucks Ltd. during the fourth quarter, but had to send it back to address a few warranty issues, a council report explained.
Also during that time period, Gibson’s Energy Refinery donated $25,000 toward NFPA 1081 training for the fire department.
Incident types
The fire department responded to 218 incidents during Q4 last year, with fire alarms (84), hazmat (41), first responder EMS (26), fires (20), and motor vehicle collisions (18) the most prominent issues.
In comparison, the department responded to 174 incidents during Q4 2018 and 214 incidents in Q4 2017.
Overall, firefighters responded to a total of 929 incidents last year.
Rural responses
Firefighters responded to three motor vehicle collisions in rural areas in the fourth quarter, along with three vehicle fires and one crop fire, for a total of seven incidents. In comparison, the department responded to 13 rural incidents during Q4 2018.
Fire loss stats
The Moose Jaw Fire Department saved more than $70.4 million worth of structures from fire during the fourth quarter of last year, while it was unable to save more than $1.7 million in property.
In the rural areas, it was unable to save $828,100 worth of structures or materials from fire.
In comparison, firefighters saved nearly $4.1 million worth of materials during Q4 2018 and more than $20.9 million worth of property in Q4 2017.
The next regular council meeting is Monday, March 9.
