Fire department sees hike in calls for service
By Castlegar Source
Call volume at the Castlegar Fire Department is once again on the rise – but that’s nothing new, according to Fire Chief Gerry Rempel.
Rempel said the department fielded 283 calls for service by the end of May 2010, as compared to 226 in the same time frame last year, which represents a 56-call hike. Rempel added, though, that this happens almost every year, and the larger issue is what type of call it is, as that dictates how much department resources are expended.
“There have been fewer rescue calls, fewer hazardous materials calls, and fewer first-responder calls,” he said, adding the number of fire calls is pretty much on par with last year. “There were more highway rescues (requiring the Jaws of Life), though, and more complaint calls (for things like backyard burning).
“It seems to be the trend,” said Rempel of the 56-call increase. “Each year, our call volume increases. Our community’s growing and getting busier, and we (as a department) have taken on more responsibilities as well, like confined-space rescue for Civic Works .. stuff like that., that we didn’t do in the past.”
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