On the scene of a training exercise happening today and continuing through Friday, Assistant Deputy Fire Chief Carrie Clark took some time to discuss the goings-on at Barrie Fire and Emergency Services.
The old Knights Inn and Sticky Fingers buildings on Dunlop Street West were full of smoke on Tuesday morning as firefighters had a training session that will help them in real-life situations and keep their reflexes ready.
Clark told BarrieToday the buildings, which are slated for demolition this summer, are perfect for the morning drills.
“Whenever there is a city-owned building that we can utilize for training, we’re able to do different types of drills in a building that allows our crews to practise evolutions that are difficult in real life so they have the opportunity to have the muscle memory to know what to do,” Clark said.
Three crews were on scene today, which allowed plenty of time for everyone to get lots of time in.
Clark also talked to BarrieToday about the two promotions within Barrie Fire that occurred last Thursday.
“My position is assistant deputy chief and it is a temporary 18-month assignment, so my previous position was chief fire prevention officer and in this interim period, Judith (Myddleton) and Samantha (Hoffmann) are splitting that time as acting chief fire prevention officers,” said Clark.
“When people act in that role, they assume all the responsibilities and part of the fire tradition is to present them with a helmet," Clark added.
Myddleton has held the position for a while now and was just receiving the traditional recognition through the helmet presentation.
Barrie Fire has been hosting its Hot Summer Nights at various parks around the city every Thursday with two more left, including Aug. 8 at Painswick Park and Aug. 15 at Batteaux Park.
The department also recently gave away tickets to this weekend’s Boots and Hearts music festival at Burl's Creek, just another way Clark says Barrie Fire are connecting to the community.
“The Barrie Professional Firefighters Association provided us with some tickets to Boots and Hearts this weekend, and being a fire-safe community, we encouraged people online to share with us their escape plans, which is what we used as the entry into the contest,” said Clark.
“Anything we can do to promote a safe home and saving lives, we will attempt to do.”
