The Chatham-Kent Fire Department has been very busy since the beginning of December.
Whitney Burk, a public educator with the fire department, says firefighters have responded to 53 crashes and 19 fires over the last 40 days, including two significant commercial warehouse fires in Wallaceburg.
Burk adds that 2017 is the first time in five years that no lives were lost in fires in Chatham-Kent.
“The stamina and determination of all our staff has been tested over the past month, working in arduous conditions for long periods our teams have done a fantastic job to safeguard communities and protect homes and properties,” explains Assistant Chief Chris Case. “The support and assistance we have had from colleagues in the Police, EMS and municipal teams have been vital to allow us to achieve the safe outcomes we aspire to during operational incidents.”
Fire crews visited thousands of homes in 2017 to implement programs such as CHiRP Home Fire Safety Checks, After the Fire Reassurance and My Apartment. Burk says it's all about ‘getting into people’s homes’ and educating face-to-face. Contact Chatham-Kent Fire for a CHiRP check by calling 519-360-1998.