New command centre for CK fire

The Chatham Voice

A revamped command centre unit is in the works for the Chatham-Kent Fire Service. Thanks to a $25,000 grant from Hydro One, new equipment will be added to one of the fleet’s trucks, including the addition of portable shelter.

CKFS assistant Chief Adam Walters said the organization was pleased to receive the Energizing Life Community Fund grant, and expanding the command unit was a “good fit” for the funds.

“It will help us fill in some gaps,” Walters said, noting the revitalized truck will assist firefighters on large-scale and prolonged long-duration incidents.

A new portable mobile structure will be added, Walters explained, to provide shelter for firefighters and other emergency workers, allowing them to take a breather and change shifts when needed.

“It will provide a place a place for firefighters to take a break out of the elements,” he said. “Before, they would have to stand outside in the weather with no privacy.” ing under the bridge.”

The truck to be used, already in service, is 10 years old, which Walters said is about the midway point in the life of a fire vehicle’s life.

Some new state-of-art audio-visual equipment will also be added to the truck as part of the command centre upgrade.

Currently there are 450 firefighters and staff serving Chatham-Kent at 19 stations throughout the municipality.

As part of the lengthy discussion on the matter and in response to the large size of the ask, Indwell’s director of projects and development said downsizing the project is doable.

“I definitely believe there’s room to recalibrate the amount of units on site,” Graham Cubbit told council, adding the project could be scaled back about 30 per cent and could be revamped to a two-storey complex.

He added it’s Indwell’s goal to “minimize” the amount the municipality will contribute, adding he understood council’s concern with the large amount of the request.

But he stressed that the application would likely have lit- tle success at the federal level without municipal backing.

A handful of delegations opposed the Indwell build, ranging from complaints the proposed three-storey build won’t fit in with the architecture of the neighbourhood to fears of increased crime, were made at the meeting.

The Indwell request was brought before council in January prior to budget talks, but it was not part of the budget process.

As it stands, the total estimated cost of the Indwell project with 95 units is about $27 million.

Council’s decision allows the municipality to enter into a memorandum of understanding with Indwell and to officially submit the proposal.