Central Frontenac Fire and Rescue water tanker shuttle accreditation

Nov 04, 2010

Photo: Central Frontenac Fire and Rescue undergo evaluation for water shuttle accreditation

On October 30, 29 Central Frontenac volunteer firefighters gathered at the former Arden Station site near Mountain Grove on Highway 7 and underwent their first-ever attempt for water tanker shuttle accreditation by Fire Protection Survey Services. According to Central Frontenac Fire Chief Mark MacDonald, who was on site acting as incident commander during the procedure, “A successful accreditation will directly improve the insurance rating for the municipality and will convert into savings on premiums for home owners’ home fire insurance”.

The two-hour test involved 30 staff and 10 vehicles. A designated pumper was set up to simulate a real response and numerous attack lines were set in place. Once the lines began to flow the team had to demonstrate that they could maintain a continuous flow of 200 gallons per minute over a continuous two-hour period. Throughout the test pumper trucks traveled to two separate water holes, each over the required 5 km designation from the fire site. One was at the Mill Pond in Arden and the other on Wilmack Road.

Suveyors Peter Rose and Mike McKenna, both of the Fire Protection Survey Services, were present conducting the test.

Fire Chief MacDonald explained, “What we are after here is an ‘equivalent to hydrant rating’ which demonstrates that we can get water here quick enough, as though we were using actual fire hydrants.” He continued, “We have been working up to this accreditation for the last three years and we want to demonstrate that we can respond in a timely manner with our equipment.”

Eight full practice sessions had taken place prior to the test, along with multiple individual station practices.

Those practices panned out for the department and at the end of the day Central Frontenac Fire and Rescue was issued full accreditation. MacDonald said, “We passed with flying colours. The surveyors were very impressed with our overall performance and teamwork and we actually had in excess of what was required.”

The accreditation will benefit residents living within an 8 km distance of any of the four fire stations in Central Frontenac, who may qualify for a reduction in their insurance premiums.

Those residents should advise their insurance providers of the accreditation, which will be listed on the Fire Protection Survey Services website (www.fpss.ca) and will also be posted on the township's website in the next few weeks.