Fire fighters with Altona/Rhineland Emergency Services (ARES) will be able to take their live training exercises to the next level thanks to nearly $49,000 in provincial funding. 

The Drager System 64. Supplied photo.

Fire chief, Greg Zimmerman, says the department will use a portion of its Fire Protection Grant to purchase a Drager System 64 - a propane fired controlled burn unit that allows instructors to manage the amount of fire being applied to a practice scenario based on how students are performing.

"It's not quite the same as a real fire but it's fairly close. It does generate the flames and the heat but you do have total control over it, with the push of a button the fire goes out immediately," explained Zimmerman. "It makes everything a little bit safer and the propane fire doesn't set off a whole bunch of carcinogens that you expose members to."

This is the same equipment that was used to produce flames for a major, multi-department live training exercise hosted by ARES in 2019.

"They've used it under a model of a car and model of a propane tank. They can use it with a propane tree or gas phalanges, it's very versatile and you can use it pretty much any place," added Zimmerman, noting they can also run liquid propane through the equipment, producing larger fires.

The remainder of the grant awarded to ARES will be used to purchase bunker gear cleaning equipment. Essentially, Zimmerman describes it as a specialized washing machine that features a high spin speed, or extractor, which removes more of the carcinogens out the fire fighters' dirty gear after a call.

Also getting a share of the province's one-time, $9 million Fire Protection Grant is the Plum Coulee Fire Department which will use $8,000 of its $20,000 funding to purchase bunker gear cleaning equipment as well.

With more attention being paid to fire fighting related cancers, Fire Chief Tony Fehr says getting that gear clean after a call has become increasingly important.

"It used to be, for some, a badge of honour to have dirty gear, it looked like you did something, and now the focus has changed to long-term safety and health of our members," he explained. "There's a lot of nasty stuff in the smoke and debris that we deal with so the cleaner and safer we can stay, the better off we are long-term."

The remaining $12,000 in funding will be spent purchasing water rescue equipment for the small town department.

"With the open water that we have in Plum Coulee, we deemed it necessary to have water rescue equipment and with this opportunity it just made it that much easier," added Fehr. Not only does a creek run through town, but Plum Coulee is home to a public beach and a reservoir where people can fish during the summer and winter.

While a few members of the department are already trained to use water rescue equipment, Fehr says the new gear has created some excitement among eight of the other members who have stepped forward and offered to take the required training. "It's a good opportunity for us." he added.

"With the open water that we have in Plum Coulee, we deemed it necessary to have water rescue equipment," said Fehr.