Chief Lindsay Holm took some time to reflect on the year that brought two new bylaws and a new fire pumper to the fire department. (File Photo/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Julia Lovett-Squires

Fire Look Back

Chief Holm reflects on achievements in 2023

Dec 20, 2023 | 4:09 PM

As this year winds down to a close, North Battleford Fire Chief Lindsay Holm is taking time to look back at the local events that shaped 2023.

“Actually 2023 all the way around was a pretty good year,” he said.

“I think one if the main highlights was that the department received its new fire pumper.”

Holm said in his mind it was both a highlight and a lowlight as there was a sentimental attachment involved.

“We did receive a beautiful new fire truck that council allowed the fire department to purchase and it’s an absolute, beautiful piece of apparatus,” he said.

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“The lowlight side of that though is it forced me to retire…old engine 22, which was the first piece of apparatus that I started on the job with, so it was kind of a little bit bittersweet for me.”

The new pumper was christened with the number 22 to keep a tradition alive following a “pushing in” ceremony, that harkens back to the old days with the horse drawn fire wagons.

The chief said he’s also proud that the fires in the city decreased from the year before back to normal levels of about 10 to 15 fires and noted that as one of the biggest achievements. As the director of protective services, Holm said he was excited with the protective services and back-alley curfew bylaws that were passed earlier this fall.

“One of the things that I’m looking forward to seeing is what kind of impact those bylaws are going to have with respect to safety and wellbeing of our community,” he said, noting it took quite a bit of effort to get them to come to fruition.

“It’s actual months of planning, researching and then drafting the bylaws and then going through the process of getting them approved at council.”

Meanwhile, he commended his safety officers and said they’re “an absolute, amazing group of people that are really working hard to try and make a difference.”

“My hat’s off to all of them because they do a pretty hard job and sometimes it’s a thankless one and they have really shined this year.”

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julia.lovettsquires@pattisonmedia.com

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