WHITEWATER REGION — A volunteer firefighter with many years of experience has been promoted to deputy-fire chief for the Whitewater Region fire department.
Jonathan McLaren was promoted to deputy-fire chief during last night’s council meeting.
Chief Jonathan Wilker explained to council that following a recommendation from the fire master plan, an internal competition was held for the position of volunteer deputy-fire chief.
“I’m very happy to announce that station captain Jonathan McLaren was the successful candidate,” Chief Wilker said.
He noted Mr. McLaren has more than 15 years of firefighting experience with three different fire services, including rural and urban departments. He is a graduate of the pre-service firefighting program at Humber College and has completed the company officer program at the Ontario Fire College.
“Jonathan is qualified in many firefighting specialties and will continue to take a lead role in training within our department,” the chief said.
Mr. McLaren grew up in the area, has family here and is very familiar with the area. He was very helpful to the chief during the transition period following his coming to the fire department as its newest chief.
He further added that firefighters Roy Church and Terry Moore, who have served as acting deputy-fire chiefs since July 2017 will return to their roles as senior officers.
Chief Wilker said internal competitions for vacant captain and lieutenant positions will be held in late September.
Councillor Daryl McLaughlin questioned if council could appoint an officer to the department since there is an upcoming municipal election.
“Are we in a lame duck situation,” he questioned.
Chief Administrative Officer Robert Tremblay said lame duck would occur if more than one current member of council with certainty were not returning. In Whitewater’s case, no other member of council is running against each other for reeve or mayor, so up to five people can be elected as councillor.
“We are not in a lame duck situation,” CAO Tremblay said.
New tanker to be purchased
In other fire department news, council approved the purchase of a tanker to replace the tankers taken out of service at Station 1 (Haley) and Station 2 (Cobden).
Chief Wilker said the 48-year-old tanker at Haley was taken out of service in early July.
The rear axle saddle broke on one side making it unfit for the road, he reported. Due to its age, new parts are not available and searching for used parts was not successful.
The Station 2 tanker was sent to Valley Truck and Spring for its annual safety inspection and it failed due to corrosion of the frame rails. It could be re-framed, but it would be costly and not worth it for a 31-year-old truck.
“The ability of the Whitewater Region Fire Department to meet response times established in the fire master plan and attempt certification for superior shuttle service is dramatically affected by the loss of these vehicles,” Chief Wilker said.
His strategy is to replace the two tankers with one tanker, which would carry the same amount of water, if not more, as the two takers combined.
“I’m looking for approval to go ahead with the RFP to purchase a new tanker,” he said.
It’s important the tanker be situated where it could not only provide better service to the municipality, but also to fire service agreements it has with surrounding municipalities and the mutual aid agreement for the county, he added.
The new tanker would go to Foresters Falls and there would be a tanker in Cobden and another at Station 5 (Westmeath).
The estimated cost of the vehicle is $290,000 and there is a fire purposes reserve balance of more than $200,000, said Chief Administrative Officer Robert Tremblay.
He noted the life of a firefighting truck is 25 years and both trucks are beyond that. There is also another tanker within the department (at Beachburg fire hall) that is more than 25-years-old and will have to be replaced.
Two-thirds of the cost of this vehicle can be taken from reserves, he added.
Mayor Hal Johnson said it’s imperative purchases such as these be spaced out.
“Obviously with three trucks, they should have been scheduled to be replaced long before this,” he said. “Obviously, you are using a strategy to keep the trucks spaced out so council can afford to replace them.
“The worse thing we can get into is a panic situation of buying new trucks and then in 15 years we have to buy two new trucks again,” he continued. “I would like to thank Jonathan for having foresight.”
Council approved Chief Wilker of going ahead with the request for proposal to purchase a new tanker.
