In consideration of the Blizzard and Whiteout Conditions, the Snow Plows being removed from service and the likelihood of impassable roads, Fire Department responses by the Township of Huron-Kinloss Fire & Emergency Services are until further notice only being provided as a Limited Service as defined in the Huron-Kinloss Fire Department Establishing and Regulating By-Law.
“Limited Service” means a variation of service significantly differentiating from the norm as a result of extenuating circumstances, such as deployment of Volunteer Firefighters in insufficient numbers to safely carry out the delivery of Fire Protection Services, environmental factors, remote properties, impeded access, private roadways, lanes and drives, obstructions, or extraordinary hazards or unsafe conditions.
The weather system environmental factors that we are presently experiencing in Huron-Kinloss has put us in a position to have to manage extreme hazards and extraordinary unsafe conditions. As such, it is the Township of Huron-Kinloss’s priority to ensure that our Volunteer Firefighters are kept as safe as possible and therefore the Fire Departments can only provide limited services.
Huron-Kinloss Fire & Emergency Service will continue to make every reasonable attempt to respond to emergencies that are deemed a serious threat to life. All other responses will be evaluated based on risk vs. reward and an appropriate response determination will be made by the Fire Chief, District Chiefs or Officer in Charge.
As members of the public, there are several things that you can do to assist in ensuring that calls for emergency services are reduced or avoided all together in these adverse weather conditions.
1. Ensure all vent pipes around your home are free and clear of any obstruction to prevent CO gas in your home
2. Ensure all Smoke and CO Alarms are installed correctly and are functioning properly
3. Avoid overloading electrical extension cords and power bars with high voltage appliances such as space heaters
4. Homeowners with a Fire Hydrant on or near their property should keep hydrants clear of snow to ensure a speedy response by arriving fire trucks.
5. Stay off all roadways until the weather lets up and they have been cleared and are reopened to public.
It is very important to remember that if you call 911 while we are operating in a Limited Services Capacity you may have a significantly delayed response time or no response at all from the Fire Departments.
The Corporation of the Township of Huron-Kinloss shall accept no liability for the provision of a Limited Service by the Fire Department as reasonably necessary.
Thank you for your patience and understanding while we work through this extraordinary weather event.
