Cottage Express, Spring 2016

GRAVENHURST FIRE DEPARTMENT

Spring 2016 Mark your calendar: FIRE PREVENTION WEEK October 9-15

COTTAGE EXPRESS Recognizing the risk from “Wildfires” Inside this issue: Message from the Fire Chief...

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MAS

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Access

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Protecting what you value most...

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Open Fires/Fireworks...

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The first 72 hours...

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Help Wanted

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Living and vacationing in Muskoka is a dream come true for many . But

Being extra conscious of every cigarette butt, every campfire that is

from your home, cottage and propane tanks; take dead branches etc.

there are risks involved and it’s important for you to understand what those risks entail.

lit, of how you landscape your property and how you dispose of debris can be critical steps in preventing a

to the landfill rather than burning them (note that burning is prohibited by by-law during the day in ALL

needless fire.

areas of Gravenhurst); and plan how you would react if a wildfire breaks out near your

For those who live amongst stands of tall coniferous and hard-

 Only WORKING smoke alarms save lives—have you changed the batteries in yours?  You MUST plan (and practice) how to escape from your home before fire strikes...  Get out and Stay out!

“FireSmart” is a complete fire prevention program aimed at keeping the

A forest fire is one of

“wildland-urban interface” safe from these devastating events. Learn how to

natures most spectacular sights, and one that has the power to destroy

protect your family by going to:

unprotected homes in its path.

It’s important for everyone to

Special points of interest:

property.

wood trees, one of the risks is from the threat of “wildland” or “wildfires”.

realize that this risk is very real here, and for everyone to take fire prevention seriously.

As your spring clean-up routine continues, be sure to empty eaves troughs of dead leaves and pine

www.firesmartcanada.ca

needles; keep dead vegetation away

Carbon Monoxide Detectors Mandatory!

You’ve heard it said that carbon monoxide is a colourless, odourless gas that can kill! Too many lives have been lost to ”the silent killer” and that’s why as of April last year, it’s now mandatory in Ontario for residences to have CO detectors installed if your home (or cottage) has ANY type of fuel fired appliance (wood stove, propane fueled furnace/stove/ refrigerator/hot water heater etc.). Have appliances checked regularly by qualified technicians, and make sure you’ve INSTALLED a CO detector now!

(These inexpensive devices are available locally at Home Hardware, Canadian Tire and other fine retailers).

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CO TTAGE E XPRE SS

Message from the Fire Chief Spring and summer in Muskoka… is there anywhere else you’d rather be?

...being thoughtful and intentional about fire safety—these are the actions of someone who takes the safety of their family seriously.

For many, Muskoka is the place of childhood memories. Of s’mores made under an incredible starlit sky; of first fish caught; of days spent at the beach or camping. And for many of us, Muskoka is home.

Whether you live in Muskoka or come here to enjoy all that nature has to offer, your Gravenhurst firefighters urge you to take safety seriously.

Each year, tragedy visits Muskoka as well - on our roads, on our waterways, and in the places we should feel safest—our homes and cottages.

Fire prevention begins with the right attitude; not being paranoid about it, just mindful. Understand that un-

for a fire emergency, we’re ready.

We’ve added new equipment to our trucks, and new people to our roster

wanted fires DO happen, even to the nicest people. So being thoughtful and intentional about smoke and

(though it seems we never have enough of what is our most valuable resource).

carbon monoxide alarms, about being prepared for a fire (or other emergency), about knowing what to do in the event a fire strikes—these are the actions of someone who takes the safety of their family seriously.

The Gravenhurst Fire Department takes your family’s safety seriously too. Our 50 members train

Our fire prevention officer will also be glad to visit your cottage or home to offer tips on how to keep your family safe. To arrange a visit, please call us at 705-687-3414. Stay safe this summer!

Larry Brassard, Fire Chief

hard all year round to hone their skills and build new ones so that, should you ever need to call 9-1-1

MAS—Muskoka Addressing System Those little blue reflective signs that indicate your address are a crucial part of our community’s emergency response system. Police, fire and ambulance workers rely on the presence of these signs to help speed the response to emergencies.

When a loved one experiences a heart attack, the presence of this sign can mean that paramedics are able to locate your home quickly.

Conversely, the absence of the sign can add precious minutes to a response.

Please take the time to ensure your MAS sign is installed and easily seen especially at night or in poor weather conditions.

When calling 9-1-1 to report an emergency, state this number clearly along with the road name. In some

Access “You can’t get there from here...”

This may be a funny line in a television commercial, but it has very real

Roadways with overgrown brush and tree limbs that encroach on to roadways can block access and pre-

implications for emergency response—especially for those properties on privately maintained roads.

vent firefighters from reaching the scene of an emergency… and if we can’t get to your property in the

Emergency vehicles, notably large fire trucks cannot deliver effective service if they’re unable to access a property.

event of a fire—well, the results can be disastrous.

Clear your roads/laneway, trim your brush and trees please!

cases you’ll need to provide the community name as well (i.e.— ”Gravenhurst, in the Severn Bridge area”) as some internet telephone service providers may not interface with the Bell 9.1.1. system. If you use one of these internet telephone systems (VoIP—Voice over Internet Protocol), check with your service provider for additional information on reporting emergencies.

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Protecting what you value most...

Did you know that smoke alarms that are more than 10 years old need to be replaced? And Carbon Monox-

important as having a working alarm.

In a fire, you may have less than a minute to get out of your home

ide alarms also have limited life spans (check yours for an expiry date).

and so you need to talk with your family NOW about home escape planning. Talk with your children

Ontario law requires that working smoke alarms be present on all levels in all homes—and that includes seasonal residences like cottages and trailers. Carbon Monoxide detectors are now mandatory for homes and cottages in Ontario as well!

But knowing what to do when that alarms sounds at 3am is just as

er and know how to use it! Call us if you need help with any of these.

Don’t put these things off to tomorrow or next week… do it now, and protect what you value most!

about primary and secondary escape routes, the importance of getting out quickly and having a safe meeting place outside. Decide how and who will call 9-1-1 and if there's a need to temporarily shelter at a neighbours.

Do a home and cottage safety audit and remove any hazards you find. Invest in a good fire extinguish-

Open Fires/Fireworks/Forest Fire Danger Rating Burning brush and having a campfire in the evening with the kids is part of our way of life here in Mus-

regulations. Essentially, fires must be limited in size and are only permitted in the evenings. They must be at-

all fire departments. Current conditions are listed on the town’s website, on prominently displayed signs

koka, but like anything, some common sense goes a long way to making these activities safe, fun and en-

tended at all times and you must have a means to extinguish the fire immediately available.

in the community and can be accessed toll free by calling:

joyable.

Gravenhurst has a by-law that regulates open air burning and so if

Sometimes, environmental conditions will require a complete ban on fires because of an increased risk of

you consider having a fire, please check the town’s website for the

forest fires. The Muskoka Forest Fire Danger Rating system is utilized by

1-877-847-1577.

The use of family fireworks are currently not regulated though the fire department strongly discourages their use in forested areas due to the risk of grass/brush/forest fires.

The First 72 hours...

The Town of Gravenhurst maintains a “Community Emergency Management Team” whose mandate

such as floods, tornadoes and other emergencies by preparing a family survival kit. Preparing your family to

is to maintain the town’s official emergency plan and conduct activities that are regulated by provincial

be self-sufficient for up to 72 hours is important.

legislation.

Current trends in preparedness planning suggest that every family be prepared for severe weather events

You can make it a fun activity too for all family members. Go to

www.getprepared.ca for more information on how to prepare

YOUR emergency kit and other helpful information.

GRAVENHURST FIRE DEPARTMENT Mailing Address:

The Gravenhurst Fire Department can trace it’s roots back to the mid-late 1800’s when, like many small Ontario Communities, a fire brigade was formed to safeguard the community from its greatest threat—FIRE.

190-1 Harvie Street Gravenhurst, ON P1P1S9 Phone: 705-687-3414 Fax: 705-687-5725 E-mail: fire@gravenhurst.ca

www.gravenhurst.ca Today, the Gravenhurst Fire Department is composed of over 50 members who operate ten large pieces of fire apparatus from three stations. Answering over 300 calls for help annually, the members of the fire department strive to maintain a rich heritage of selfless service established over the decades by those that have gone before us…

UT ALII VIVANT (“That others may live!”)

HELP WANTED! ANSWER THE CALL!

We offer:

That’s the tag line for our recruiting initiative which is underway as of NOW.

 Excellent training and transferrable

We’re always looking to bolster our ranks of volunteer/part-time firefighters and the need is especially acute here during the traditional work day.

 All personal protective clothing and

If you are between the ages of 18 and 60, are in good physical condition, enjoy learning new skills and being part of a high performing team, becoming a part-time firefighter could be right for you.

 Full WSIB coverage and supplemental

Homemakers, truck drivers, electricians, gentlemen farmers… all have made great Gravenhurst firefighters in the past… now its your turn!

skills

uniforms

 Competitive wages insurance benefits

 Friendships that can last a lifetime  Fun, excitement and a sense of selfsatisfaction from helping others in their time of need.

Interested? Call us or go to our website and download an application.

Final Thoughts…

A nursery school teacher was delivering a station wagon full of kids home one day when a fire truck zoomed past. Sitting in the front seat of the fire truck was a Dalmatian dog. The children began discussing the dog’s duties.

“They use him to keep crowds back, "said one youngster. “No,” said another, “he’s just for good luck.”

A third child brought the argument to a close. “They use the dogs,” she said firmly, “to find the fire hydrants.”