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SCHOOLS EXCEL WITH
FIRE PREVENTION WEEK ACTIVITIES
Robert Lynch, PR
The Harbour Grace Volunteer Fire Brigade
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Harbour Grace Primary Fire Prevention Week
The Harbour Grace Volunteer Fire Brigade conducted their annual Fire Prevention visits this past week Beginning with a fire drill at Harbour Grace Primary. Members of the Brigade visited the school on September 27, 04 and the alarms were pulled. The 200 students evacuated the building in 58 seconds, using the 4 exits and following their evacuation plan practiced earlier this school year. On September 30th,04 the Brigade paid a visit to St. Francis Junior High. Much to the delight of brigade members and School Staff the approximately 430 students were evacuated from the building in1 minute and 47 seconds. Fire Prevention Officer Crew Chief Sonia Williams Said “ we are very happy with the results of these two fire drills. The students were not expecting the visit and reacted to the alarms in a clam and orderly fashion. It showed that both schools had followed their practiced escape plans and students and staff handled the drill to perfection” Throughout the week the brigade also conducted classroom visits to Harbour Grace Primary. From Monday to Friday Fire Prevention Officer Crew Chief Sonia Williams and firefighter Chris Noseworthy spoke to every class congratulating them on the excellent fire drill. The information session continued with a fire prevention film, a demonstration of what to expect to see when a fully dressed firefighter enters a fire scene. The session concluded with a lively question and answer period where students learned more about Fire Prevention.
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Crew Chief Williams “we were very impressed with the questions asked by the students, we enjoyed their stories and hope they will remember to be Fire Smart.”
The Fire Prevention Week activities included a contest offered to the Harbour Grace Primary Students. Students were to make an escape plan for their homes. All students submitted plans of escape and Kyle Follett’s plan was picked as the winner. Kyle received a stuffed toy, of the firefighters friend and intentionally known Fire Prevention mascot, Sparky. Four kindergarten students were chosen, two from each class to be “Chiefs for the Day” The four students and their teacher Mrs. Wendy Baily along with Fire Chief Paul Snow, Fire Prevention Officer Crew Chief Sonia Williams and firefighter Chris Noseworthy had a very busy day. The day began with the teacher and students being picked up at the School in the Brigade’s Rescue Unit. From here they were taken around the town for a ride and to the Fire Hall for a tour of the building. The group proceeded to McDonald’s for lunch sponsored by both McDonald’s and The Harbour Grace volunteer Fire Brigade. The students were presented with fire Prevention Kits and Certificates for “Fire Chief for the Day”. Fire Prevention Officer Crew Chief Sonia Williams Said “ During the school visits every student was asked to learn the Brigade’s emergency number, and with their families plan a Fire escape route. They were asked to be always aware of fire safety. Each student was also given Fire Prevention pencils, badges, and various other items to keep as a reminder of the Brigade’s visit”.
Photo: Harbour Grace Primary students and staff from Kindergarten and Grade 2 classes wearing children’s firefighters helmets, given to them by the brigade, pose with Firefighters Chris Noseworthy and Crew Chief Sonia Williams following a visit by The Harbour Grace Volunteer Fire Brigade Fire Prevention team. |
SINGLE VEHICLE MVA
PROMPTS MUTUAL AID CALL
Carbonear, NL
Robert Lynch, The Harbour Grace Volunteer Fire Brigade
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The Carbonear Volunteer Department was dispatched to the scene of a single vehicle accident at eh Soccer field on Wednesday September 05, 04. Soccer fans watching a group of Carbonear Collegiate Students playing a scrimmage soccer game against former students were startled by a crashing noise. Suddenly the game was interrupted by of all things a car on the field. A late model Mazda Protege had broken through the fence at one end of the field roaring its way, more or less, diagonally across the field, crashing through the opposite fence, the car then went across a bank and came to rest in a brook.
The Carbonear Hospital Ambulance, the RCMP, were called to the scene. Carbonear dispatcher called for The Harbour Grace Volunteer Fire Brigade’s Rescue Unit #2. Upon arrival at the scene firefighters found the lone occupant in the vehicle conscious and alert. Firefighters aided Ambulance attendants in packaging the victim and transporting her to the ambulance. Town council workers had to bring in a backhoe to make a road to provide access for the tow truck to retrieve the vehicle. A section of the fence had to be cut away to give access for the stretcher bearing the accident victim to be carried to the ambulance which was waiting on the field.
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Amongst the soccer fans was Level One student Jennifer Dobbin she reported “ my friends and I were standing on the field when we heard a crash, we turned and saw a car coming through the fence behind us, near the main entrance gate. We all ran to the right, the car speed across the field through the opposite fence went down the bank and landed in the brook.”Fortunately the players were in the opposite end of the field at the time of the accident or it could have been really bad.”
Trinity Conception District RCMP officer Constable Terry Alexander reported “the driver appears to have suffered a seizure while driving her car to work at the Carbonear Swimming Pool, she has no memory of the accident itself only the before and after events.”
Photo: late model protege as it rest in a Brook after it owner siezuered, losing control and crossing a soccer field in Carbonear September 28th,04
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SHORE-BASED COLD WATER RESCUE TEAM
MEMBERS RECEIVE
BRONZE CROSS CERTIFICATE
Harbour Grace, NL
Robert Lynch, The Harbour Grace Volunteer Fire Brigade
Two members of the Harbour Grace Volunteer Fire Brigade’s Cold Water Rescue Team have successfully completed a 30 hour Bronze Cross Course at the Carbonear swimming Pool. The 30 hour course is offered over a six week period through the Life Saving Society of Canada. The course focuses on areas including life-saving procedures, swimming endurance and rescue techniques in complex situation involving two or more causalities.
Cold Water Rescue Team Leader Firefighter Bill Ryan said “The Brigade has always had a progressive training schedule that offers its members access to the latest and most advanced training techniques in firefighting, high angle rescue, vehicle extrication and cold water rescue. Since forming the Water Rescue Team in 1997 the brigade has given full support to the training program. I hope to incorporate many of the Bronze Cross rescue techniques into our regular Cold Water practices. Much of our water rescue training takes place at the Carbonear Swimming Pool and a I thank the staff for their full support and encourage all residents to avail of the wide range of water safety courses and swimming lessons that are offered.
Caption: Water Rescue members Dave Earle and Bill Ryan of the The Harbour Grace Volunteer Fire Brigade Cold Water Rescue Team receive their Bronze Cross Certificates From Carbonear Swimming Pool Instructor Lori Wareman
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C.B.N. FIRE CHIEFS ASSOCIATION HOST FIRE UNDERWRITERS SURVEY SPECIALIST
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Responding to an invitation from The Conception Bay North Fire Chiefs Association, John Redden, a Fire Underwriters Survey Specialist was in Harbour Grace September 20th, 2004 to give an information seminar. John, an agent representing C G I Insurance Business Services provided an overview of the services they provide. The Insurance Underwriters Conducts surveys which sets a grade, this grade is referenced by government and insurance companies for writing insurance for a given area, he said “ We do not set the rate-- we set a grade. The grade is established by following a formula using a point system, points are award or deducted according to a prescribed method and the grade tells insurance companies to write or not to write insurance in a given area. For example all firefighting equipment has standards–Insurance Underwriters looks for these standards and points are awarded or deducted accordingly. A single grading is a 28 page process of mathematical calculations the final number from this calculation determines the grade.” |
The CBN Fire Chiefs Association, seeing the flaws in the facts in the Fire protection section of a study conducted by Central Consulting Services Inc.of Gander last year decided to look for help and placed a call to Mr. Redden. The CBN Fire Chiefs Association used the Underwriters recommendations to rebut the flawed study. Association Chair Chief Paul Snow Said “ The study didn’t truly reflect the Fire Service in Conception Bay North. The number of apparatus, the availability of equipment and the area covered were not properly verified: even down to the number of responses to calls for assistance was not correct in the study. He concluded “ in light of these discrepancies in the Fire Services alone gives us concern for he validity of the study and the value of the money spent on such a flawed document.”
In attendance for the seminar was among others the Fire Commissioner, Mr. Fred Hollett and his staff. The President of the Newfoundland and Labrador Association of Fire Chiefs and Firefighters Mr. Richard Murphy. |
Tom Hedderson MHA Harbour Main/ Whitbourne. Councilors members of the printed media as well as Fire chiefs and Firefighters from throughout the Conception Bay North area. At the end of the presentation a very lively and informative question and answer period was conducted. While it was noted that it has been said that there is too much firefighting equipment in Conception Bay North, the feeling was not shared by those in attendance Fire Commissioner Fred Hollett Concluded “The value of Fire protection Services in your community is not known or appreciated by town officials.”
Photo: From Left to right: Fire Commissioner Fred Hollett, MHA Tom Hedderson, Mr. John Redden, Mr. Richard Murphy President NLAFCFF, Chair Chief Paul Snow. |
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TWO VEHICLE MVA SENDS THREE TO HOSPITAL |
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Harbour Grace, NL Robert Lynch The Harbour Grace Volunteer Fire Brigade was called to the scene of a two-vehicle MVA at 2:48 p.m. on Tuesday June 22, 04. The call for assistance was placed from Riverhead Irving. The caller reported that one person was trapped in a vehicle as the result of an accident at the intersections of Water and Harvey Streets and the Harbour Grace access to Veterans Memorial Drive.
The Brigade responded with their rescue vehicle Unit #2, their front run pumper Unit #4, Units#3, #5 and #6, four officers and a full complement of firefighters. Moores Ambulance Services dispatched two of its ambulances and were joined at the scene by an ambulance from Carbonear General Hospital. The RCMP was on the scene as well as members of the Harbour Grace Junior Brigade.
Upon arrival at the scene firefighters that found a late model car and a pickup truck were involved in the accident. The male driver of the pickup truck being attended by a nurse and a Town of Harbour Grace employee. Firefighters removed the passenger’s side door to allow ambulance attendants access to the driver and secure him to a backboard and send him to the hospital. The passenger in the pickup and the passenger in the car were also taken from the scene by ambulance and transported to the hospital. Town employee Dave Regular said “The car had come down the access road and failed to stop at the intersection. The pickup was proceeding west across the intersection when it was struck by the car. The pickup driver had swerved but could not avoid the accident. The impact caused the pickup truck to roll over and land on its roof. There was nothing more the pick up driver could do, it all happen so fast” |
Officer in charge of the scene Crew Chief Brain Dwyer Said ” from the time of alarm to time on the scene we were 5 minutes. This prompt response coupled with a coordinated effort between us and the ambulance attendants made for very quick handling of the extrication and packaging of the patient in the truck. This scene would have been much worse and drivers need to be cautious when change from highways speeds to driving in our towns.”
Photo: pickup truck rolled on to its roof as the result of an accident in Harbour Grace June 22, 04
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BRIGADE RESPONDS TOO
SUSPICIOUS BARN FIRE
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Harbour Grace, NL Robert Lynch, The Harbour Grace Volunteer Fire Brigade
The Harbour Grace Volunteer Fire Brigade was dispatched to the scene of a Barn fire at 11:27 p.m. Friday August 13th, 04. The call for assistance was placed by a resident of Harbour Grace South who could see the Fire across the Harbour from his house. The barn was located North of the town in an area where the nearest hydrant is about 1½ kilometers of the main road. The Brigade responded with pumper #5: units #3 and 6 and a full compliment of firefighters. Upon arrival on the scene firefighters found the barn fully engulfed in flames. The electrical supply to the barn was burnt off and was flicking around, arching out and sending sparks around the gate entrance. Pumper #5, crew began to attack the blaze while the chief called back to have the front run Pumper #4 sent to the scene also. Newfoundland Power was called to the scene as well as the RCMP and Moores Ambulance Services. |
The Carbonear Volunteer Fire Department was called for backup. The Carbonear Department could not commit their pumper to the scene because their Front run pumper was temporally out of service and they had to rely only on their back up pumper is case of a second call. Carbonear place their pumper on Veterans Memorial Drive and served as a look out for flying embers. The 500 gallons of water on pumper #5 was quickly used up and with the arrival of Pumper #4, firefighters set up a load and go relay from the two nearest hydrants where water pressure permitted a quick and efficient filling of tanks.
With too many factors against the firefighters, and after several hours of determined efforts the barn and its contents were a total loss. Insurance was carried on the building only. The fire has been deemed Suspicious in nature and an RCMP investigation is on going
Chief Snow Said “ The distance to truck water, the extent to which the fire had progressed before our arrival and the heavy fire load in the building were all determining factors contributing to the loss”.
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