Fire Calls For Aid Decreased By 38 In North Frontenac In 2023

Craig Bakay | Apr 10, 2024

Despite several hiccups from momentary power glitches, North Frontenac Council got through its regular meeting April 5 in Plevna without any major interruptions.

Director of Emergency Management/Fire Chief Eric Korhonen delivered his annual report for 2023 and presented an optimistic accounting of the department’s operations.

“The department saw a decrease in requests for aid by 38 calls in 2023 as compared to 2022, a record year with 155 calls,” he said. “Tiered medical emergencies continue to be our number request for aid at 70 per cent of the calls.

“Our department responded to only one structure fire (which doesn’t include things like sheds) in 2023, which may be accredited to our aide prevention and fire, life safety efforts.”

He said the North Frontenac Fire Department protects Wards 2 and 3 in North Frontenac while Ward is protected by the Kaladar/Barrie Fire Department through a joint fire committee.

“Clarendon/Miller has 15 firefighters on the roster, Snow Road station has four and the Ompah Station has 11,” he said. “In December, five new recruits joined the department.

“In all, firefighters spent 180 hours getting certified and 940 hours attending their regular weekly training.”

He said they recently started reviewing fireworks complaints at Council’s request and there were two formal complaints in 2023.

“We currently only respond to fireworks complaints during a fire ban,” he said. “The reason for this is usually the displays/events are over before the departments arrive.

“The response consumes available volunteer resources and incurs vehicle and wage expenses for the Township.”

He said in 2023, they started using a new app called Who’s Responding which comes directly from Kingston Dispatch and all firefighters are contacted directly through their cellphones.

“The firefighters can then indicate if they are responding to the hall, standing down or not available,” he said. “It’s worked very well for us.”

He said they continue to receive complaints related to open air burning in contravention of the bylaw but it’s usually related to a fire ban.

“Once we institute a fire ban, the public seems to monitor themselves and their neighbours,” he said. “Last year was an exceptional year with the Centennial Lake wildfire putting the majority of our residents on edge.”

When asked about recruiting for the Snow Road station, he said “I challenge our councillors who live in the area to talk to your residents.

“There are departments across the country that are closing because of a lack of volunteer support.”

He said: “In closing, a good firefighter adapts — we adapt to change, we plan ahead and we consider our options.”

Climate Change Resolution

Councillors’ opinions on climate change figured into two items on the April 5 agenda.

First Council was asked to endorse a resolution on Climate Change.

Coun. Vernon Hermer said “this sounds like an endorsement of the federal policy which includes the Carbon Tax — and I’m against that.”

Coun. Fred Fowler said that he too opposed the tax and Tay Valley’s resolution had nothing to do with local situations.

Dep. Mayor John Inglis said he’s all for the Carbon Tax although he was a little surprised it took Tay Valley so long to get around to a resolution.

“We passed a similar resolution 4 months ago,” Inglis said.

The motion to support passed 4-2 in a recorded vote with Fowler and Hermer the two nays.

Later in the meeting, Council was asked to provide three councillors to serve on an Environmental Task Force with Inglis, Fowler and Coun. Roy Heutl putting their names forward.

Inglis said he was skeptical about how effective the task force could be with a “climate change denier (Fowler supposedly)” on it.

“Just because I’m against the carbon tax doesn’t mean I don’t care about the environment,” Fowler retorted.

Remembrance Day Banners

Council gave its approval to the Land O’Lakes Lions Club to hoist banners on municipal poles for Remembrance Day in Northbrook and Cloyne.

Coun. Vern Hermer and Mayor Gerry Lichty expressed concerns about how the 10 veterans to be honoured would be chosen, with Hermer concerned about offending some residents but both voted in favour of it.

“I think we should just stay out of it and approve it,” said Coun. John Inglis.

Emergency Preparedness

Council declared May 5-11 as Emergency Preparedness Week.