During Fire Prevention Week, I would like to take an opportunity to thank all the Men and Women of the Centre Wellington
Fire and Rescue Department.
Being a Volunteer Firefighter for a busy department is always a challenge. Our firefighters respond 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year to over 450 emergencies per-year. They respond to emergencies of various nature including accident and trauma scenes, medical assists, alarm calls, and of course, fires – all without significant warning to be personally prepared for whatever they may encounter. The weather conditions can often be poor. They miss meals, work or time with family and friends all to serve the public as a “Fire Rescue Professional”. They put in hundreds of hours every year to train and learn new life saving skills. Our firefighters most often use complex strategies and tactics to quickly and safely resolve an emergency as every emergency is unique.
Through the course of being a firefighter they will see and be asked to do things that no one should. Frequently the patients, occupants or the property owners they are assisting are known personally which adds to the stress of being a firefighter here in Centre Wellington.
We are just starting to learn that the cumulated effects of life-threatening or complex emergencies will take a mental and physical toll on them. We are committed to provide the best health and safety practices as possible to our firefighters.
I am proud and humbled to be part of this a great organization.
To all our Officers and Firefighters, I Thank-you.
Sincerely, Brad Patton, Fire Chief. bpatton@centrewellington.ca
