By Geoff Smith

Water supply still adequate for firefighting: N.B, chief

Jul 27, 2016 | 5:07 PM

Staff members at North Battleford’s fire department have taken steps to ensure it has enough water during a period of conservation measures.

Fire chief Albert Headrick told battlefordsNOW the contingency plan involves extra tankers, and extra staff on duty so that a fire can be knocked down more quickly.

“Basically, any structure fire that you have here that’s free burning or fully involved requires about 14 personnel,” Headrick said. “The critical part is when you arrive there on scene, and what severity and what state is it in. By having enough personnel and enough units responding, you can knock down the fire a lot faster.”

The extra support involves one additional tanker unit that’s been brought in, and the town of Battleford has a tanker on standby to help the city, an arrangement similar to when North Battleford sent a firefighting crew to northern Saskatchewan in 2015.

Headrick says the fire department will have 6,000 gallons of water at its disposal when needed, and a hydrant will be connected but not used unless needed. But if that were to happen, he said that would stress the system, so mechanisms are being put in place so it wouldn’t be necessary.

Rustlers Volleyball

Crusaders' Bell excited for next chapter with Lakeland College

8h ago

Nothing but Net

Vikings' standouts ready for national stage with Team Saskatchewan

11h ago

Missing person

Spiritwood RCMP searching for missing woman

14h ago

The situation has prompted a reminder for people to remember common sense fire safety. Headrick said that means not leaving food unattended on the stove, blowing out candles, and having working smoke detectors. It also means taking the proper measures when using approved backyard fire pits.

Geoff Smith is battlefordsNOW’s News Director, business and agriculture reporter. He can be reached at gsmith@jpbg.ca or tweet him @smithco.