Donation from Enbridge helps fire department with new trailer
A new rehab trailer now being used by the Amherstburg Fire Department has seen some of the costs to acquire it offset by Enbridge.
Haroon Sritharan, senior advisor of stakeholder engagement and communications, and Ian Robertson, supervisor of solar operations, with Enbridge were at Amherstburg fire station #2 last Thursday afternoon to view the trailer and see what it is all about.
Enbridge contributed $7,500 towards the cost of the trailer. The cost to acquire it was approximately $25,000 but outfitting it brought the cost to close to $30,000.
Deputy Fire Chief Ron Meloche said the 18-foot trailer was purchased in May and recently put into service.
Meloche stated that Enbridge has been a very good corporate partner to work with and pointed out they have teamed with Enbridge in the past on other pieces of training equipment.
“Firefighters need to get out of the elements,” Meloche explained. “This gets them out of the weather, we’re getting them out of the smoke.”
The trailer has places for firefighters to get something to eat or drink and relax, all the while getting out of their fire gear.
“There’s no more sitting by a truck in your dirty gear eating donuts,” said Meloche.
The trailer can be brought to serious fire calls such as structure fires, HAZMAT calls, calls during extreme weather events and water rescue calls.
“It’s another tool for us,” said Meloche. “We’ve been fortunate this year that it hasn’t had to be brought out.”
Firefighters will be trained on it with Meloche noting it can also be used to have firefighters medically assessed, if need be.
Robertson also pointed out the partnership between the Amherstburg Fire Department and Enbridge.
Robertson added the company has had “great success” working with the fire department and they have done training exercises at the Amherstburg solar farm.
“It fits our safety values quite well,” Robertson said of the partnership.
Dealing with occupational health hazards and providing a climate-controlled space for firefighters is a benefit for all and Robertson stated it allows firefighters another way to get home safe at the end of the day.
Fire chief Michael Mio credited “good corporate partners” like Enbridge for allowing the fire department to get equipment they need.
“Thanks to everyone who put this together,” said Mio.
Mio pointed out the benefits the trailer provides but indicated they would like to see the community be safe and that they don’t have to get called out.
“It’s things like this we hope we never have to use,” he said.
By Ron Giofu
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