Minto Fire to receive $48,000 from province

MINTO – Minto will soon be receiving $48,000 from the province through a fire protection grant to purchase equipment for cancer prevention measures.

“This is a yearly grant we get from the fire marshal’s office,” director of fire services Chris Harrow told council on Feb. 3.

The grant funds must be used on cancer prevention items. In previous years the funds have been used to purchase extra bunker gear as well as extractors to clean gear at the stations.

The Clifford station is the final station needing extractors for cleaning the personal protective equipment after calls at which it becomes contaminated.

The province “did double the grant this year which is great,” Harrow said. “Any money we have left over this year, depending on the costs of the extractors, will go towards bunker gear so we have extra sets.”

“We are very thankful to the province and the Office of the Fire Marshal for this program,” Harrow’s report states. “Cancer-related claims have skyrocketed in the past few years and this will help us to hopefully bring the numbers affected down.”

The grant program was announced in the government’s 2024 budget and is designed to support cancer prevention efforts by municipal fire departments across Ontario.

According to the Ontario Ministry of Solicitor General, firefighters die of cancer at a rate up to four times higher than the general population. On average, 50 to 60 firefighters die of cancer yearly in Canada and half of those are from Ontario.

Councillor Ron Elliott asked Harrow how often the extractors are used.

“Not every time we go out but any time there’s contaminants on the gear,” Harrow said. “Any structure fire, grass fire or motor vehicle collision where there might be some fluids.”

He also noted it takes 24 to 40 hours for the gear to be washed and air dried.

“We do have some spare gear [but] it’s getting thinner and that’s why we’re going to try and buy some new gear,” Harrow said.

The firefighter gear has a lifespan of 10 years and must be replaced no matter what.

“How many sets of gear can you put in the extractor? councillor Judy Dirksen asked.

Harrow explained the gar comes apart from the inner lining to the outer shell.

“The shells get washed together and then the inner lining gets washed together. We can do two sets at a time,” he said. 

Council approved the report for information and allowed staff to enter a transfer payment agreement with the province to receive the funds.

Mayor Dave Turton and councillor Geoff Gunson were absent.