Staff
The town will be signing an automatic aid agreement with the Chapple, Emo, La Vallee, and Alberton Fire & Emergency Service, which will see both sides able to access firefighting equipment neither side has.
The Fort Frances Fire & Rescue Service currently is a member of the Rainy River District Mutual Aid Association, which means they can provide voluntary reciprocal fire protection services with Alberton, La Vallee, Emo, and Chapple and vice-versa, Fort Frances Fire Chief/CEMC Tyler Moffitt explained in a written report to town council Monday night.
This includes providing extra firefighters and pumper trucks because both fire services have them.
However, the town fire department can’t request a water tank truck, which the Chapple, Emo, La Vallee, and Alberton Fire & Emergency Service has, because Fort Frances does not have one.
Similarly, the district fire services can’t request an aerial ladder truck because they don’t have one but Fort Frances does, noted Moffitt.
Under the new automatic aid agreement, Fort Frances will be able to request a water tanker truck if the need arises and if at the time, one can be provided.
Likewise, the townships will be able to request an aerial ladder truck.
As well, the agreement will allow either fire service to return to their respective communities at anytime should the need arise.
Council agreed to the recommendation to proceed with the initiating of a future signing of an automatic aid agreement with Alberton, La Vallee, Emo, and Chapple.
Also at Monday night’s meeting, council:
•proclaimed May 6-12 as “Emergency Preparedness Week” in the Town of Fort Frances;
•proclaimed May 7-13 as “Children’s Mental Health Week” in the Town of Fort Frances;
•referred a request for the $650 annual fee from the Rainy River Vet Services Committee to the Administration and Finance executive committee for its recommendation;
•approved travel and per diem claims from Fort Frances CAO Doug Brown, in the total amount of $67, for his attendance at the NOMA conference in Kenora on May 2-4;
•approved credit card expenses from Brown, in the amount of $72.80, for a lunch meeting with Resolute vice-president of operations Michael Martel on April 6;
•approved per diem claims from Coun. Ken Perry ($240) and Coun. Wendy Brunetta ($160) for their attendance at the NOMA executive meeting April 3-4 in Thunder Bay; and
•approved travel and per diem claims from Coun. Brunetta ($577) and Mayor Roy Avis ($594) for their attendance at the NOMA conference in Kenora.
