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​Huron-Kinloss fire departments providing limited service until further notice

December 23, 2022

Given the current blizzard and white-out conditions, the Huron-Kinloss snow plows being removed from service and the likelihood of impassable roads, fire department responses by the Township of Huron-Kinloss Fire and Emergency Services are, until further notice, being provided only as a limited service as defined in the Huron-Kinloss Fire Department Establishing and Regulating Bylaw.

That’s the word from fire chief Chris Cleave, in a press release issued Friday. The township has fire departments in Ripley and Lucknow.

"Limited service" means a variation of service significantly differentiating from the norm as a result of extenuating circumstances, such as deployment of volunteer firefighters in insufficient numbers to safely carry out the delivery of fire protection services, environmental factors, remote properties, impeded access, private roadways, lanes and drives, obstructions, or extraordinary hazards or unsafe conditions.

“The weather system environmental factors that we are presently experiencing in Huron-Kinloss has put us in a position to have to manage extreme hazards and extraordinary unsafe conditions,” stated Cleave. “As such, it is the township’s priority to ensure that our volunteer firefighters are kept as safe as possible and, therefore, the fire departments can provide only limited services.

“Huron-Kinloss Fire and Emergency Service will continue to make every reasonable attempt to respond to emergencies that are deemed a serious threat to life. All other responses will be evaluated based on risk versus reward and an appropriate response determination will be made by the fire chief, district chiefs or officer in charge.”

Cleave states that members of the public can do the following things to assist in ensuring that calls for emergency services are reduced or avoided all together in these adverse weather conditions:
 
  • Ensure all vent pipes around your home are free and clear of any obstruction to prevent CO gas in your home
  • Ensure all smoke and CO alarms are installed correctly and are functioning properly
  • Avoid overloading electrical extension cords and power bars with high voltage appliances, such as space heaters
  • Homeowners with a fire hydrant on or near their property should keep hydrants clear of snow to ensure a speedy response by arriving fire trucks.
  • Stay off all roadways until the weather lets up and they have been cleared and are re-opened to the public

“It is very important to remember that if you call 911 while we are operating in a limited services capacity, you may have a significantly-delayed response time or no response at all from the fire departments,” states Cleave. “The township shall accept no liability for the provision of a limited service by the fire department as reasonably necessary. Thank you for your patience and understanding while we work through this extraordinary weather event.”

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