Fire department bolsters its ranks

Kathy Michaels - Penticton Western News Published: August 20, 2009 6:00 PM

Dollars Penticton council diverted toward the fire department have now brought staffing levels to a more desirable level. Last week fire chief Wayne Williams put the city’s $200,000 to use and pulled four firefighters from the pool of auxiliary staff and offered them full-time positions. They will start training Aug. 26, and be fully integrated into the department by Sept. 2.“That brings us to 32 suppression firefighters,” explained Williams, adding “it’s a move in the right direction.”

Penticton’s fire department has been staffed at below-ideal levels for some time, and several reports supporting an increase in staffing levels were brought to council over the years.Those reports explained that provincial guidelines, which suggest a minimum of four firefighters to be on scene before they can enter a burning building. That includes one firefighter to control the water supply, and another to act as safety while the final two enter the building.

Penticton’s two halls were staffed with a minimum of two firefighters at all times. That meant when one hall was responding to a call, the first personnel on scene had to wait for a truck to arrive from the second hall before anyone could enter the building.With the increased funding, and subsequent hiring, Williams explained that they will be closer to getting a four-man engine at each of the city’s two fire halls.“The goal right now is to try and better our response time, to meet the Worksafe B.C. regulations to provide enough manpower on scene quickly to have adequate manning on scene,” he said.Now that the hiring is done, Williams is trying to work out shifts so there are six firefighters on staff. “It will be nice once they are all up and running,” said Williams, who in earlier reports to council noted that the department would like to add two more members in 2015 and 2016.