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Paisley Fire Department agreement finally approved By Liz Dadson |
Kincardine council To Comment on this article Click Here |
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 Kincardine fire chief Jamie MacKinnon points to the new coverage area for the Paisley Fire Department in Ward 3 (former Bruce Township) of the Municipality of Kincardine | ||||
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After a complicated process and lengthy debate, Kincardine council has finally approved the agreement with Arran-Elderslie Township for the Paisley Fire Department to provide fire protection coverage in the northeast corner of Ward 3 (former Bruce Township). The issue erupted last year when Kincardine decided it wanted out of the Paisley Fire Board and opted to go with an agreement with the township for fire services instead. Residents in the affected area were concerned that they would lose fire service. However, council explained to the residents that the coverage would remain the same, only now Kincardine was purchasing the service rather than being part of the fire board. In committee-of-the-whole last night (Oct. 6), council approved the Paisley and District Fire Department automatic aid agreement which means the Paisley department is first responder for that section of Ward 3, with the Tiverton department dispatched simultaneously to provide extra manpower and equipment, if needed. Fire chief Jamie MacKinnon said this is the same procedure for Kincardine's two fire stations. At the north end of the municipality, Tiverton is first responder with Kincardine dispatched to back it up. In the south end, Kincardine has enough volunteer firefighters who live in Ward 1 (former Town of Kincardine) and the equipment to be sole responder, he said. He stressed that the automatic aid agreement simply means shorter response times. "The problem for a fire department without the automatic aid agreement is once it reaches a fire, it must size up and assess the situation before sending out a call for help," he said, noting the local fire departments are trying to maintain a standard of 10-and-10, which means 10 firefighters respond within 10 minutes. Rural departments have difficulty with this response time, said MacKinnon. "If we're not quick to respond, by the time we get to a house fire or a barn fire, it can quickly become a dangerous situation." He said there is no similar automatic aid agreement with Huron-Kinloss Township which has fire departments in Ripley and Lucknow. The Ripley Fire Department covers part of Ward 2 (former Kincardine Township), while Kincardine covers the subdivision just south of Saratoga Road. "Automatic aid was not an option that came up when we drew up that agreement," said MacKinnon. The agreement with Paisley has changed the boundaries covered by that department, MacKinnon told council. The former boundaries had both Tiverton and Paisley covering either side of the same road, he said. The new agreement now has one department covering both sides of that road. Pointing to the map, MacKinnon indicated that Paisley covers a smaller area, one road east of its original area, while Tiverton picks up the rest [see map above] He encourages people, when they call the 911 emergency line, to ask for the fire department, not a specific one because it may not be the one to cover that particular area. "Was the Tiverton Fire Department involved in drawing up this agreement?" asked councillor Randy Roppel. MacKinnon said no. He was asked by council to draw it up.
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 The map shows the former coverage area (green line) and the new coverage area (orange line) for the Paisley Fire Department in Kincardine "They should've been involved," argued Roppel. "It affects them. Then, they'd know what's going on." MacKinnon said all affected fire departments would be apprised of the changes once the agreement was approved. "There are no changes to the original agreement except the coverage area for Paisley and Tiverton," said councillor Mike Leggett, who sat on the Paisley Fire Board. "If Paisley responded to your property before, it will respond now. Tiverton will back it up, and if Tiverton isn't needed, it goes home. "There were no sideline deals and no hidden agendas here. This is just a good agreement to provide fire protection to the people in our municipality, with the fire department they asked for. When they call for the fire department, one will show up. Nothing will change." Councillor Marsha Leggett urged mayor Larry Kraemer to call the vote. Councillor Gordon Campbell said the new agreement was a waste of money and Kincardine should have remained a member of the Paisley Fire Board. "We're providing the best service to our residents and protecting their property," said Kraemer. Mike Leggett noted that the new agreement received unanimous support from the Paisley Fire Board. A motion to defer third reading of the bylaw, was defeated. During
council session, in a recorded vote, the automatic aid agreement bylaw
was approved, 6-2, with mayor Larry Kraemer, deputy mayor Laura Haight
and councillors Guy Anderson, Kenneth Craig, Mike Leggett and Marsha
Leggett in favour, and councillors Gordon Campbell and Randy Roppel
against. Councillor Ron Hewitt was absent.
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