Lorne joined the fire department in June of 1966. His work in our Fire Department has included service as a Fire Captain and Deputy Chief. In January of 2002 he became the sixth resident to volunteer his services as Fire Chief . As well as his 38 years of municipal firefighting , training and knowledge Lorne brings with him a wealth of Industrial Firefighting Training.

" I would like to welcome you to these Web Pages. The information that follows tries to introduce you to our History and our current day Structure and Operations.
To those citizens who have chosen to serve in our Volunteer Fire Department I am grateful for their support and their endless adaptions to the ever changing demands being placed upon the Fire Service. We ALL owe them a never ending debt of gratitude.
Fire Control in Augusta township cannot be isolated to just those who choose to serve in our municipal fire department. Putting out fires , Fire Suppression , remains the cornerstone of the community service we provide. For Fire Control to become complete we also require the help and support of our Businesses and OUR CITIZENS it's a life skill called .... Fire Prevention.
I hope you enjoy browsing through these Web Pages and that you will join with us and become partners in making Augusta Township the most firesafe community in Ontario. "

Lindsay joined the AFD in June of 1978. He has served as Leftennant Instructor , Captain Instructor , Captain Safety Officer and now fills the position of Deputy Chief.

" When I began in the Fire Service they gave me a hard hat and a pair of work gloves as my protective fire fighting gear ! Now I wear $ 2,000.00 worth of Bunker Gear and they ask me to write articles for a computerized Website. Things have changed in the Fire Service."

The Deputy Chief is responsible for the Fire Prevention Programme of Augusta Township. "The Dep" is also known as your Chief Fire Prevention Officer .

A Fire Prevention Programme is built upon the following legislation :

Ontario Building Code
Ontario Fire Prevention & Protection Act
Ontario Fire Code Regulations

ONTARIO BUILDING CODE : Establishes construction standards from the perspectives of structural soundness , life safety and fire safety. Implementation of the Building Code and it's associated Permits is the responsibility of the Chief Building Official Augusta Township. Contact our Township Office.

ONTARIO FIRE CODE : Ensures that the Fire Safety Standards set in place through the Building Code during construction are not altered by subsequent owners or tenants. The Fire Code also sets standards for the testing and maintenance of alarm systems and fire detection systems. Fire Code Inspections are the responsibility of the Augusta Township Fire Department. Contact the Fire Department through our non emergency number.

The Fire Prevention and Protection Act , which is the Provincial Act through which Municipalities receive authority to operate a Fire Department , establishes Fire Prevention as the primary responsibility of a Fire Department. Our Fire Prevention Program is steadily expanding :

EXTENSION EDUCATION

During Fire Prevention Week we provide Fire Safety lectures to school children and we assist the County Fire Prevention Committee in any ot their displays.

We are available to assist teachers in integrating the "Learn Not to Burn" and "Risk Watch" programs into the student curriculum.

" OLDER BUT WISER " .... this is a group of retired firefighters who will do presentations to Senior Citizens regarding fire safety behaviours applicable to this age group. If you have a seniors group , of 20 or more persons , who you think would benefit from such a presentation , call us .... though our non emergency number. Plan ahead , bringing in this group will take 2 to 3 weeks.

LIBRARY RESOURCE CENTRE We are building a display of Fire Prevention pamphlets in the Augusta Township Library. Visit your Library , it is located on County Road 18 at the south edge of Algonquin Hamlet.

KITCHEN MEETINGS Some people do not like to go to "big meetings". If you can assemble representatives from 5 or more families in one location , say a kitchen or a basement recreation room , we will come to them and do Fire Safety presentations. Our talk lasts about one hour.

GUEST SPEAKER ?? If your group / organization is holding a meeting we can provide a Guest Speaker service. Our focus is on residential Fire Safety. Topics include , but are not limited to :
Woodburning
Home Alarm Systems
Home Inspections
Home Fire Safety Planning and Drills
With youth groups we may be able to arrange for the assistance of "Sparky the Firedog".

FIREHALL VISITATIONS We welcome firehall visitations by groups of 10 or more. Such visits must be prearranged through our non emergency number.

A WORD ABOUT INSPECTIONS .......

The purpose of a Fire Inspection is NOT to "arrest people" ..or.. "throw people in jail" !

A Fire Inspection is designed to spot fire hazards before they develop into a fire. At stake is the safety of the occupants and the continued well being of the structure. Our aim is to provide advice , guidance , standards as to how the problem can be corrected. Most people cooperate. Yes ....... if the hazard is high , the danger immediate we can issue Fire Marshall's Orders and / or revert to court charges , to date this has been the exception not the rule.

Our ROUTINE INSPECTION PROGRAM includes ....

* An annual check of School Fire Drill procedures
* Annual School Fire Inspections
* Annual check of all Halls of Public Assembly
* Annual check of Day Care Centres

Our VOLUNTARY INSPECTION SERVICES include .....

* General Home Inspections
* Woostove Burning Systems

If you have a request , an inquiry , about our Fire Inspection Services call us at our non emergency number , ( 348 - 3455 ).

YEAR MAKE MODEL

WATER LOAD GMVW

6
DIESEL 250 HP

CANDLES ............

The use of candles within our homes is steadily increasing. When electrical power fails the candle is the number one device that most people turn to for supplemental interior lighting. Safe candle burning practices are NOT ingrained in the behaviour patterns of "modern humans". We have to relearn .... "Candle Fire Safety Procedures". Consider the following ......

(1) The use of open free standing candles IS NOT recommended. If you do set free standing candles alight .....
* the candle should remain still in one location when burning
* the candle holder should be non combustible
* the surface upon which the lighted candle is set should be fire resistant (no plastic / paper table cloths )
* once again .... an open , free standing lighted candle should never be moved ;
extinguish .. move .. relight the candle

(2) Candles should be burned within a shielding glass chimney or "candle lantern".

(3) Tremendous heat rises from a candle flame. There should be at least 36 inches of free space above a candle flame. Candles should never be set alight inside bookshelves , inside end tables ..or.. under fabric lampshades.

(4) Watch your clothing. A candle tip is an open flame. Frilly , light , well aerated synthetic clothing has a low flash point. The main offenders are pyjamas , night gowns , the cuffs of party dresses / shirts or blouses.

(5) Watch your hair. Both men and women wear long hair. Human hair is a well aerated fine fuel with an extremely low flash point. If the hair has been treated with a combustible hairdressing .... the potential danger becomes even worse. There is a growing number of incidents wherein people have leaned over the open flame of a candle tip and their hair has caught fire !

(6) Watch your pets. A dog's tail can send a burning candle flying ! Cats interpret the flickering light of a candle as "movement". They become curious , they poke , they prod , oops there goes the candle!

(7) Modern children have tremendously advanced skills when compared to pioneer children. Modern children may be able to browse the Internet ..but.. few have inherited skills regarding how to behave around burning candles. Never leave children alone around candles. Teach your children about the fire dangers that surround candles.

(8) Never place lighted candles on a Christmas Tree ! Never light candles if there are decorative evergreen boughs around the base of the candles !

(9) Aromatic Candles should be used with discretion. " Oh this candle is so wonderful ... it smells like you are in a pine forest !" Remember : when this aromatic candle is burned in addition to candle wax some type of chemical is being vaporised that induces smell sensations in the human nose similar to those encountered in a pine forest ! Aromatic candles can cause problems for people that have respiratory tract allergies.

A WORD TO THE WISE .....

The soft flickering flame of a candle is a restful and beautiful experience. The AFD has no interest in depriving our residents of such an experience ..but.. a burning candle tip is an open flame and must be afforded the same respect that we would give to any other fire in our home.

There is an old Greek saying .... " Every virtue becomes a vice when carried to extremes ".

Three or four candles burning in a room is a manageable situation .. but .. "20" .. "30" ..or.. "50" open flames burning in a room is too much of a good thing. Not only is this circumstance a very serious fire hazard , the stage has been set for a dangerous Carbon Monoxide problem .

AUGUSTA TOWNSHIP FIRE PREVENTION COMMITTEE