Shelburne Fire Department hosts open house to promote fire safety

Written By BRIAN LOCKHART

They brought out the ladder truck, the pumper, and all the other equipment unique to a fire department during the Shelburne and District Fire Department's annual open.

The open house was held prior to national Fire Prevention Week.

It was a good opportunity for people to have a close-up look at the life saving and emergency vehicles that routinely respond to disasters, accidents, fires, and medical emergencies in the region.

A fire safety house with simulated smoke was a teaching tool for kids to learn how to respond to a fire and how to get out safely.

The Fire Department is responsible for an area covering 365 square kilometres in the region.

“We cover parts of Melancthon, part of Mulmur, Mono, part of Amaranth and the town of Shelburne,” explained Shelburne Fire Chief Brad Lemaich. “We're about 18 kilometres out to the farther edge of our response area. We've got a good portion of the Bruce Trail, most of Mono Cliffs provincial park – agricultural, Pine River Valley is all ours. We have some really varied terrain.”

Leading into Fire Prevention Week, the Chief said it is a good opportunity to remind people of fire safety.

“This week coming up is Fire Prevention Week from October 7-13. We have the fire safety house to teach kids how to get out and stay out (of a fire). It starts with a little bit of theatrical smoke, smoke alarms going off. There's a kitchen, bedroom, and living scenario. The kids, with fire fighter guidance, escape the fire safety house simulating a smoke alarm going off in the house. Today, people can come in and see the equipment, pick up some fire safety information, have some questions answered, and learn about their smoke alarms and CO alarms. The kids are all getting a safety package.”

The department has two pumpers, a rescue truck, a tanker, a ladder truck, and a command vehicle.

While smoke and CO2 alarms are now mandated by law, many people still don't have working alarms in their house.

Fire Prevention week promotes the use of alarms and explains why they are so important.

The open house started at 10:00 a.m. and welcomed visitors until 4:00 p.m.