THUNDER BAY – Fire and rescue services across the Thunder Bay area have received a total of nearly $446,000 to protect firefighters.
About $135,800 was given to Thunder Bay Fire and Rescue through the province’s fire protection grant.
Deputy fire chief Dave Tarini told Newswatch that the majority of the funding is to expand the department’s cancer prevention initiatives.
“We appreciate very much this funding source from the provincial government. It’s going to help accomplish better protection for staff here at the fire service who, in the course of their duties, are exposed to a number of occupational chemicals and diseases,” he said.
“They’re at a higher risk for occupational cancers, and we want to do everything we can. And through the support of the government, we’re going to be able to better protect them by providing them with additional personal protective equipment and better means of decontaminating themselves and their gear.”
Tarini said the equipment they had purchased was four Hastra industrial extraction washing machines and drying cabinets.
“We already have some of those units in place to decontaminate the bunker gear and clothing that get contaminated in the course of a firefighter’s duties, but some of the new equipment we’re looking at. Essentially, they’re called hard surface extractors, and they’ll allow us to put some of the other equipment in,” he said.
Tarini said the new machines will handle oddly shaped equipment such as back plates and helmets that “wouldn’t go in a standard industrial washing machine.
The drying unit that goes along with the washing machines will help speed up the decontamination process and get equipment back into service for firefighters.
Other purchases also include mineral fire suppression for lithium-ion.
Tarini said they have made a firm decision on which type of lithium-ion fire suppression equipment will fit the department’s needs.
The Municipality of Oliver-Paipoonge received $102,613 for renovations to a washroom, adding a shower at one fire station, and the installation of a diesel exhaust extractor. The purchase of bunker gear, including helmets, gloves and boots, SCBA mask adapters for P100 particulate filters and the filters, decontamination equipment and supplies. For lithium-ion incident response, they purchased three nozzle kits.
Several other area municipalities received money from the fire protection grant.
Neebing got $79,719 for bunker gear, air purifying respirators, TyChem suits, and an extractor washing machine.
Shuniah received $52,821 for bunker gear, one gear extractor and construction of a dedicated washing and drying station for masks and gear.
Atikokan will use $19,626 for a Fit Testing Machine.
Conmee got $19,626 for renovations to upgrade the bathroom with a commercial-grade shower for decontamination and an extractor dryer for bunker gear.
O’ Connor is using $19,626 for a mobile turnout gear dryer and bunker gear and Gillies got $16,000 for personal protective equipment.
