Mike Kwasnica and Lindsay Holm stand by the NBFD pumper suring the Saskatchewan Association of Fire Chiefs trade show on Fri., May. 31. (Julia Lovett-Squires/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Julia Lovett-Squires

Trade Show

Fire chiefs trade show a chance to network and learn

Jun 2, 2024 | 9:00 AM

Mike Kwasnica had never experienced its equal before.

As chief of the Humboldt Fire Department, there was nothing in their emergency measures manual to prepare for what took place on that long stretch of highway in 2018.

“It was nothing that we had ever imagine,” said the chief, who also serves as the president of the Saskatchewan Association of Fire Chiefs (SAFC).

“When you become the world’s centre of attention, it’s unlike anything that I never wish on any community.”

Events like the Broncos bus crash highlighted the way the fire service landscape is morphing beyond its traditional boundaries.

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According to Lindsay Holm, chief of the North Battleford Fire Department, chiefs do the best they can to protect the community.

“I know our city’s emergency plan is about 600 pages and it’s tied into a regional plan,” he said.

“The event that Mike had in his community there, you can’t plan for it and you’re going to have to make a lot of decisions really quickly and on the fly.”

The 74th annual SAFC Conference is currently underway at the InnovationPlex in North Battleford and over the next couple of days will feature workshops, a trade show and the annual general meeting.

Firefighter and Rocky Mountain Phoenix Sales Manager Carmen Ready shows off new turnout gear during the Saskatchewan Association of Fire Chiefs trade show on Fri., May. 31. (Julia Lovett-Squires/battlefordsNOW Staff)

Among the topics of discussion: budgeting for the future and dealing with becoming an all-hazard response.

“As fire chiefs, we’re in charge of the taxpayers’ money that funds the fire departments and it’s up to us to make good solid decisions with that money,” said Holm.

“We’re having to look not only one or two years ahead, we’re into five, 10, 15 and 20-year capital plans to be able to make sure that our taxpayers’ money is being utilized the best we can.”

According to Rob Cozine, provincial co-ordinator for Saskatchewan Crime Stoppers, Rural Crime Watch and Citizens on Patrol and had a booth at the tradeshow, there’s been a good turnout for the event.

“It all has to do with fire prevention of course but we’re close partners with them,” he said.

As a reservist with the RCMP, in the years since he became co-ordinator, he has seen communities take ownership of their crime prevention strategies.

“They’re looking for programs for the RCMP that can do that, and the system such as Crime Stoppers and Citizens on Patrol and Rural Crime Watch,” Cozine said.

“More people are signing up and my heart goes out to all the volunteers that are in the communities, ‘cause without them, we wouldn’t be able to solve crime.”

Confrence attendees learn about new gear during the Saskatchewan Association of Fire Chiefs trade show on Fri., May. 31. (Julia Lovett-Squires/battlefordsNOW Staff)

Kwasnica said another issue plaguing not only fire departments in Saskatchewan but also nationwide is recruitment and retention.

“Our volunteer service is getting older, and the younger generation is not willing to step up as much as the older generation,” he said.

As a member of the national advisory committee with the Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs, ultimately, it’s a North American issue.

“It’s everywhere. Every fire department across North America is struggling the same way that we are,” he said, noting they are looking at implementing national incentives.

Greg Baker of C73 Fire Truck Mechanical also had a table and was there to speak with visitors about his services.

“I take care of fire apparatus, all equipment in the fire service,” he said, referring to trucks, utility equipment trailers, and pumps. Over the years, as technology changes from mechanics to electronics, Baker has seen more issues with wiring and sensors.

“It’s definitely not a bad thing but it’s making its move forward,’ he said.

“A lot of its great – great features for the firefighters so, they can do their jobs a lot better.”

Meanwhile, in addition to chronic issues of what fire departments are facing, Kwasnica said the more they do, the more they’re asked to do.

“Now we’re starting to get into the mental health and addictions, we’re getting…to helping with homelessness and encampments and those sort of social issues, the fire departments are now being tasked with, which we’ve never been in the past,” he said.

Holm agreed.

Flowers in boots at the Saskatchewan Association of Fire Chiefs trade show on Fri., May. 31. (Julia Lovett-Squires/battlefordsNOW Staff)

“Every time we add something to what we’re doing, it does increase operational pressures because we are budget limited,” he said.

“We’re managing but at the same time, we’re also struggling because as that increases, the demand on all our personnel increases and at some point and time, we got to looking at what our business model is and where we want to go with it.”

Conferences like this Holm said allow chiefs to get together and discuss just that.

“We have the benefit of having chiefs from all over the province,” he said.

“We’re getting ahead of some issues and being able to develop strategic plans to be able to try and bring something back to our community to be able to assist with whatever’s thrown at us.”

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julia.lovettsquires@pattisonmedia.com

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