Yes, it has been a while since I updated this so here goes:
First I would like to thank everyone for all the work that has been done lately. To the Recruit Class - a special thanks for an awesome dinner. Very impressive. It appears that all the recruits (except the one with the number 7) were successful and will be passing probation. Congratulations. I would also like to thank the day staff for all the work they have done lately in fire hall and truck maintance. The building has never looked so good. I hear station 2 is next.
Work on the sign for Station 2 is nearing completion. The crane has been sandblasted and will be painted next week. It will then be installed with the log work. This should look impressive I hope and will be one of the features when the Commuinities in Bloom contest comes to town at the end of July.
A great effort by the firefighters that attended the big structure fire on Mt. Matheson last weekend as mutual aid to East Sooke. The building was a total loss despite the best efforts of many. Fortunately nobody was hurt. Sooke crews were able to keep the wildland fire that started as result of falling embers from spreading across the mountain - yes folks, it is getting dry out there. In case you hadn't noticed the burning index is now rated HIGH.
We are in preparation for Canada Day on July 1. It would be great to have a good turnout of firefighters at this event. The recruit class has promised to put in a raft in the annual race to defend last years group effort. Lets all show up and cheer them on. We will also be doing a recruiting drive and fire extinguisher training for the public. That evening will be our annual fireworks display.
August 8th is the Subaru Triathlon through Sooke and Otter Point. Volunteers are needed to help at this event. Please let me know if you can help.
For those of you that have been stuck in one of the great traffic jams in Sooke this past month we can now report that Hydro has completed the majority of their work along the roadway. Work is now taking place on the bridge. Despite the complaints of many citizens, there is little the District of Sooke can do as this is a Provincial Highway and we do not have control over this road. Now that the underground hydro work is done, the repaving will soon begin in our area. Some work has already started near Luxton and the 17 Mile House. Most of the paving work will take place at night so traffic shouldn't be to bad (I hope) We are investigating ways to assist firefighters in getting from their homes to the fire halls in the event of emergencies during this construction period.
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Latest Update
I have a bunch of things to report so here goes: First off, for those taking the Fire Officer 1 training course, the new text books are in. Contact me or the Training Officer to get your new edition. This should certainly make finding the homework a lot easier.
Congratulations again to Cam as he starts his first day of work with the District of Sooke. He certainly is off on the right foot as he brought in homemade cookies - Hint, Hint.
July 5th will begin the 4 day on / 4 day off rotation. This will bring about a variety of changes to the department. A discussion on switching the duty officer and FR duty will need to be conducted to determine which direction you would like to go with this. Also, with holidays coming up for the staff, there are several days available for the volunteer firefighters to come in and work a shift. I will be posting a list shortly of the days currently available. This will be updated regularly as new dates are determined.
A new command vehicle has been purchased. We were fortunate in acquiring a slightly used hybrid pickup truck from the Olympics. With only 6,000 km on the odometer it is almost new. The price was really great too as we got it for $19,000.00 off the retail price. When this new vehicle is added to the fleet we will be moving some of the trucks around. The new truck will become Car 1 (unit 211) The current Car 1 (unit 209) will become Squad 1 and be left at Station 1 for use of the day staff and as the First Responder unit for the duty crew at Station 1. (208) Battalion 1 will stay as is and be used by the duty officer (by the way - the water tank has been installed for the summer) Finally, what is currently Squad 1 (unit 210) will be reassigned to Station 2 as Squad 2. This unit will be available for daytime responders from station 2 that are not qualified to drive the heavy apparatus and will also be available to any Station 2 first responder duty crew or for FR calls in general. Not sure how this will work, but we will give it a try for a month or two and then re-evaluate. Oh and on a side note, as the new command vehicle was the last unit is stock, there was new choice in colour. It is a silver / grey colour. We will be placing decals and striping on the truck to show it is a fire department vehicle. Here is where you get to help make a decision - should we just look at some great graphics and striping to make it look like a fire department vehicle or should we have it repainted red to match the fleet. Let me know your opinion.
Several events coming up quickly. The Touch the Truck event will have Engine 11 (204) off to Western Speedway this weekend. Also the Ride for Life will take place on Sunday at EMCS. The Western Foods Anniversary sale last weekend netted over $350.00 for a charity of our choice. Help is still needed for Canada Day. We will be having a recruiting drive as well as offering fire extinguisher training to the public. If you can help, please sign up on the sheet.
Garry and John are looking for new members for the Auto Extrication Team. No experience is neccessary. They are not planning to compete right now, just in getting training. It is only one night a month so if this type of thing intererts you, I encourage you to contact either of them for information.
The Office of the Fire Commissioner has asked BC Fire Departments to submit a list of apparatus and qualified FD personnel that would be interested in fighting fires in the event of major fire situations as some of us went through in Kelowna and other parts of the Province in past years. If you would like to be placed on the eligibility list, please let me know.
I will be away this coming week (leaving Saturday) as I will be attending the BC Fire Chiefs Conference. If you have any questions in my absence, please contact DC McLeod.
Congratulations again to Cam as he starts his first day of work with the District of Sooke. He certainly is off on the right foot as he brought in homemade cookies - Hint, Hint.
July 5th will begin the 4 day on / 4 day off rotation. This will bring about a variety of changes to the department. A discussion on switching the duty officer and FR duty will need to be conducted to determine which direction you would like to go with this. Also, with holidays coming up for the staff, there are several days available for the volunteer firefighters to come in and work a shift. I will be posting a list shortly of the days currently available. This will be updated regularly as new dates are determined.
A new command vehicle has been purchased. We were fortunate in acquiring a slightly used hybrid pickup truck from the Olympics. With only 6,000 km on the odometer it is almost new. The price was really great too as we got it for $19,000.00 off the retail price. When this new vehicle is added to the fleet we will be moving some of the trucks around. The new truck will become Car 1 (unit 211) The current Car 1 (unit 209) will become Squad 1 and be left at Station 1 for use of the day staff and as the First Responder unit for the duty crew at Station 1. (208) Battalion 1 will stay as is and be used by the duty officer (by the way - the water tank has been installed for the summer) Finally, what is currently Squad 1 (unit 210) will be reassigned to Station 2 as Squad 2. This unit will be available for daytime responders from station 2 that are not qualified to drive the heavy apparatus and will also be available to any Station 2 first responder duty crew or for FR calls in general. Not sure how this will work, but we will give it a try for a month or two and then re-evaluate. Oh and on a side note, as the new command vehicle was the last unit is stock, there was new choice in colour. It is a silver / grey colour. We will be placing decals and striping on the truck to show it is a fire department vehicle. Here is where you get to help make a decision - should we just look at some great graphics and striping to make it look like a fire department vehicle or should we have it repainted red to match the fleet. Let me know your opinion.
Several events coming up quickly. The Touch the Truck event will have Engine 11 (204) off to Western Speedway this weekend. Also the Ride for Life will take place on Sunday at EMCS. The Western Foods Anniversary sale last weekend netted over $350.00 for a charity of our choice. Help is still needed for Canada Day. We will be having a recruiting drive as well as offering fire extinguisher training to the public. If you can help, please sign up on the sheet.
Garry and John are looking for new members for the Auto Extrication Team. No experience is neccessary. They are not planning to compete right now, just in getting training. It is only one night a month so if this type of thing intererts you, I encourage you to contact either of them for information.
The Office of the Fire Commissioner has asked BC Fire Departments to submit a list of apparatus and qualified FD personnel that would be interested in fighting fires in the event of major fire situations as some of us went through in Kelowna and other parts of the Province in past years. If you would like to be placed on the eligibility list, please let me know.
I will be away this coming week (leaving Saturday) as I will be attending the BC Fire Chiefs Conference. If you have any questions in my absence, please contact DC McLeod.
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