Township okays $20,000 for firefighter training, certification

Huron-Kinloss council has given pre-budget approval for the Ripley-Huron fire chief to spend $20,000 on firefighter training and certification.

At the Jan. 8 committee-of-the-whole meeting, fire chief Chris Cleave requested $12,000 to conduct the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1021 Fire Officer Level 1 certification course, in-house.

"This course is the first level in the Fire Officer series of NFPA certification courses," stated Cleave, in his report. "The program will commence in February and be completed in April. It will be delivered locally at the Ripley-Huron fire station through our previously-contracted training provider, Firestar Services Inc."

He said the program will be offered to the current complement of fire officers and some senior firefighting personnel who have indicated interest in becoming an officer in the future.

Cleave requested an additional $8,000 to host the NFPA 472 Hazmat Operations training.

"This course is a mandatory requirement to complete NFPA 1001 Firefighter Levels 1 and 2 certification," he said. "The cost of the course (set to run this month) will be divided among the registrants. The Ripley-Huron Fire Department has three members who will participate, the Lucknow Fire Department currently has five participants, and the Kincardine Fire Department may also send participants. The external participating departments will be invoiced for their portion upon completion of the course."

Committee-of-the-whole recommended pre-budget approval, and that was later approved by council.