Kingsville Fire receives provincial funds

REGIONAL —– Kingsville Fire Department is among seven area municipal departments to receive funds from the Ontario government in order to address the impacts of COVID-19.

Chatham-Kent-Leamington MPP Rick Nicholls announced last week that the Ontario Government is investing $58,100 to help Windsor Fire and Rescue Services, $9,600 for Essex Fire and Rescue Services, $10,300 for Tecumseh Fire and Rescue Services, $10,000 for Amherstburg Fire Department, $9,900 for Kingsville Fire Department, $13,600 for Lakeshore Fire Department, and $12,000 for LaSalle Fire Services in order to address the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The funding will enhance fire safety training and support safety inspection programs to ensure compliance with the Ontario Fire Code.

“Even during the hardships of COVID-19, we need to guarantee our communities are still being protected and our government is here to support Ontario’s fire services,” said Nicholls. “This investment will enhance fire safety throughout many communities and ensure the technologies and equipment needed to support training and fire inspections are being provided.”

The funding is part of a $5 million provincial investment to help municipal fire services respond to the local impacts of COVID-19 which created risks and unprecedented challenges for fire departments to conduct training and fire safety inspections.

This one-time funding will enhance in-person and online educational instruction needs by increasing access to additional training.

It will also support updates to specialized critical equipment, such as high-speed internet, to enhance virtual training and enable remote options to support fire safety and compliance with Ontario’s Fire Code while minimizing exposure to the virus.