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Released: February 19, 2013 Originator: Larry Brassard, Director of Fire and Emergency Services / Fire Chief Fire Department Recognizes Local Support GRAVENHURST, ON, February 19, 2013/ - The Town of Gravenhurst and the fire department is reaching out to local employers to say ‘thank-you’ for their on-going support of local firefighters. Fire Chief Larry Brassard and Mayor Paisley Donaldson visited Brackley Boats on Progress Court today to present the first of several “Employer Awards” that are being presented to business owners who allow one or more of their employees who are part-time firefighters to leave their workplace to respond to emergencies. “Without the ongoing support of our employers who permit firefighters to respond to emergencies in our community, our first responders would not be able to provide this critical service to our ratepayers. All members of Council recognize this important contribution to the safety of our community and we want to recognize the importance of their role,” said Mayor Donaldson. “When a community relies on part-time or volunteer firefighters, being able to muster sufficient numbers during the traditional workday is essential to making sure we can deliver top quality fire protection,” added the chief. “Employers who allow their employees to leave work to attend a fire are the backbone of our community and demonstrate that they are as committed to Gravenhurst as our firefighters are. We simply want to say ‘thank-you’ for supporting us, he added. The fire chief will be visiting the following employers in the coming weeks to make similar presentations: Home Hardware, the Home Building Centre, Superior Propane, Town and Country Fine Foods, Hammond Transport, the Corrections Canada facilities (Beaver Creek and Fenbrook), Canadian Tire, the Ontario Provincial Police and the Chippewa’s of Rama First Nation. The Town of Gravenhurst also employs two staff in other departments who are also part-time firefighters and may attend emergencies during work hours. For further information, contact: Larry Brassard, Director of Fire and Emergency Services/Fire Chief, at 705-687-3414.  |
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Released: February 20, 2013 Originator: Larry Brassard, Director of Fire and Emergency Services / Fire Chief Fire Razes House GRAVENHURST, ON, February 20, 2013/ - A fast moving fire destroyed a home in the Severn River area last evening leaving a family of four homeless. Shortly after 10:00 pm, Gravenhurst firefighters were alerted to a fire in the basement of a home at 1008 Sutherland Drive (off of Southwood) but when firefighters arrived, the fire had taken complete control of the ground floor area of the large house as well. Four tanker trucks, including one each from Severn Township and the Township of Ramara Fire Departments helped shuttle water to the fire scene. The fire was discovered in the basement of the home by the resident who tried in vain to extinguish the fire before calling 9-1-1. The fire grew quickly however, forcing him to abandon his efforts. The male, his wife and two children aged 3 and 11 months then fled to a neighbour’s home. The man was treated at the scene by Muskoka paramedics for smoke inhalation. Firefighters worked feverishly for several hours to try and save the home; however the intensity of the fire thwarted their efforts. Damage is estimated at $500,000.00. The cause of the fire is still under investigation. Firefighters are reminding everyone of the importance of having working smoke alarms on EVERY level of the home, and of the importance of calling 9-1-1 promptly when an emergency occurs. For further information, contact: Larry Brassard, Director of Fire and Emergency Services/Fire Chief, at 705-687-3414. |
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Released: January 23, 2013 Originator: Larry Brassard, Director of Fire and Emergency Services / Fire Chief Frigid Weather Prompts Fire Safety Warning GRAVENHURST, ON, January 23, 2013 - The ridge of arctic air that has settled over Gravenhurst and the rest of Muskoka has Gravenhurst fire chief Larry Brassard urging caution for area residents. “A spat fires have occurred in the past couple of days including a serious house fire in the Port Sydney area on Tuesday”, said Brassard. Gravenhurst fire crews responded to an early morning chimney fire on Beiers Road today where access was an issue. “A long snow-bound driveway prevented our large trucks from accessing the site, however a crew in a four by four managed to make their way to the home, and while the fire had burnt itself out, the damage could have been much worse if the fire had worked its way into the home”. No damage was done, but the incident has Brassard urging rural residents to clear their access routes and driveways. “Our firefighters can’t help if they can’t get to your home”, he added. The abundant snow also has Brassard urging residents to make sure that their gas meters are free of snow and ice accumulations. “A build up of snow or ice on your gas meter can cause it to malfunction creating a very dangerous situation in some circumstances. A carbon monoxide detector can also be a life-saver,” said Brassard. “If you have fuel fired appliance of any sort in your home, you need a carbon monoxide alarm to ensure your safety.” Brassard cautioned about the use of portable heaters as well. “Keeping combustibles like newspapers and furniture well away from the heater, and following the manufacturer’s instructions carefully is the key to using these safely”, said Brassard. He discouraged the use of extension cords with electric portable heaters as well as these can overheat quickly, especially if they’re not designed for the electrical draw.
For further information, contact: Larry Brassard, Director of Fire and Emergency Services/Fire Chief, at 705-687-3414. |
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Released: January 24, 2013 Originator: Larry Brassard, Director of Fire and Emergency Services / Fire Chief Garage Burns Thursday Afternoon GRAVENHURST, ON, January 24, 2013/ - A fast moving fire destroyed a garage on Sparrow Lake Route D in Gravenhurst this afternoon causing approximately $25,000.00 in damage. Firefighters from two stations responded to the incident at approximately 5:15 after the residents called 9-1-1 to report the fire. Arriving fire crews found the single story detached garage fully engulfed when they arrived. Despite the frigid temperatures, a fire crew had no difficulty accessing the garage or extinguishing the fire but not before the building was destroyed. An investigation into the cause of the fire determined that it was started when a resident of the property tried to thaw a frozen snow blower with a propane torch inside the garage and accidentally ignited some combustible material. Fortunately there were no injuries. A house on the property was not damaged. The Gravenhurst Fire Department is urging caution with the use of any open flames and suggests electrical heaters be used in place of open flames to thaw frozen equipment or materials where possible. For further information, contact: Larry Brassard, Director of Fire and Emergency Services/Fire Chief, or Fire Prevention Officer Rob King at 705-687-3414. |
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News Release