The Centre Wellington Fire and Rescue Department received its “re-certification” of the “superior tanker shuttle service accreditation” on Nov. 2.
“Through the support of council and the dedication of staff I’m pleased to announce that Centre Wellington’s Fire and Rescue Department has now been re-certified …” said Mayor Joanne Ross-Zuj.
This accreditation has the potential of “saving our tax- payers money through their residential fire insurance premiums,” added Ross-Zuj.
Property owners located in areas of the community beyond 300 metres of municipal hydrants, but within 8kms of their responding fire station, may be eligible for improved property insurance rates similar to areas with hydrants.
Fire Chief Brad Patton said, “Through much planning and training, the Centre Wellington Fire and Rescue Service was re-certified with superior tanker shuttle service accreditation.
“This is a direct credit to the professionalism and dedication of our firefighters in the Fergus and Elora fire stations. To all our officers and firefighters, I thank you for your services, your time and energy that you give to this fire department and to our community.”
The service accreditation is an alternative water supply for public fire protection for residences that are more than 300 metres (1,000 feet) from a fire hydrant and within 8km (five miles) of a fire station.
The accreditation requires a third party to review policies, equipment, staffing levels and to witness a fire department’s physical test.
Fire Underwriters Survey/Risk Management Services were selected as the third party and witnessed and certified the tanker shuttle test on Nov. 2.
Re-certification criteria required the fire department to respond to a rural location.
Water tankers must shuttle water from a filling site to the pumping site a minimum distance of 5km, supplying the pumping site continuously for two hours.
From arrival of the first vehicle at the location, the department must start flowing or pumping water at a minimum rate of 900 litres (200 gallons) per minute within five minutes and must maintain this minimum flow continuously for two hours.
A total of 108,000 litres (25,000 gallons) of water must be supplied.
In the past, residents paid a higher fire insurance premium for a residential property more than 300m from a fire hydrant (previously classified as a “non-hydrant rate”) and within 8km of a fire hall.
Rural residents and any homeowners that are more than 300m from a hydrant are encouraged to apply to their insurance company or broker and advise them that the Township of Centre Wellington has superior tanker shuttle service accreditation, which may allow them to be eligible for a reduction in their fire insurance rates if they have not already done so.
