Toxic training

By Scott Neufeld Friday, February 2, 2007 http://www.dailycourier.ca/article_933.php

There have been fewer fire calls this week but that doesn’t mean local firefighters have had time to kick back and relax.The 12 full-time firefighters have been getting their training this week in dealing with ammonia, chlorine and sulfur dioxide spills. Vernon fire chief John Lysholm said it is the first step in eventually getting full hazardous materials training for the department.“It’s kind of exciting for us with all the training we’re doing,” he said.The training will allow firefighters to safely deal with ammonia and chlorine spills at local pools and ice arenas as well as sulfur dioxide spills. Lysholm said that with the Multiplex, Civic Arena and local pools, it’s important that local firefighters have the proper training.

Now that they have received the training, they will offer their services by an on-call basis to other municipalities in the North Okanagan Regional District. Lysholm said that each community will vote on whether or not to have the Vernon department become responsible for cleaning up these spills.“Hopefully, we’ll be able to provide the service to those who want it,” he said. “We’ll see about that in the future.”Earlier this year the cold weather triggered the gas leak alarms at the civic arena and firefighters donned their yellow Hazmat suits and tested the air for harmful levels of gas. Although the alarms have been false, Lysholm said it is critical that the fire department is properly prepared for a real gas leak emergency.

The city is paying for the training and Lysholm said he hopes the city will eventually pay for firefighters to be trained in the removal of hazardous materials. He said the nearest crews trained in hazmat removal are in Kamloops and Kelowna and there’s no guarantee they will drive all the way to Vernon to remove dangerous goods.“We’re working toward (hazmat training), we’re doing it in bits and bites and then we’ll take it all in one big gulp,” Lysholm said. “It’s hard to get people trained all at once.”With hazardous cargo frequently passing through Vernon, Lysholm said it is important that the fire department is trained to deal with spills in case the unthinkable happens.