It鈥檚 been a transformative year for the Township fire department, and a ceremonial event next week will further symbolize that shift, according to the firefighters鈥� union.
Last November, the International Association of Fire Fighters Local 4550 Township of 91原创 Professional Firefighters鈥� (L4550) recognition dinner saw new members, retirees, and career milestones celebrated by family, friends, and members of council.
It was a keystone to also celebrate the new atmosphere within the Township of 91原创 fire department, said L4550 president Jordan Sparrow.
It has been a productive year for the fire department, he added, noting a lot of changes are coming to fruition.
鈥淲e have seen a great deal of improvement in the direction our department has been able to move,鈥� Sparrow elaborated.
鈥淭he support and interest we鈥檝e seen from Mayor [Eric] Woodward and council has brought us to a place where our firefighters are confident that we are going to have the resources we need to keep the Township as safe as possible going into the future.鈥�
Since the 2022 municipal election, there have been a number of key decisions made in the department that L4550 considers 鈥渄efinite improvements鈥� 鈥� both immediate and in long-term planning, the president shared.
鈥淭he improvements we鈥檝e seen will bring the TLFD to a reasonable foundation for our members to work and develop as professional firefighters,鈥� said Sparrow, 鈥渁ll thanks to council鈥檚 push to bring their fire service up to date, the forward thinking of fire chief Jason de Roy and his management team under deputies Cory Parker and Russ Jenkins.鈥�
The changes include more staffing for the growing population of the Township, with 19 new firefighters starting Feb. 24, new apparatus (including a new, second frontline fire truck based out of the Willoughby firehall), improvements to firehalls ( renovations and a new build), and an increased focus on prevention and public education (with two new inspectors who started Jan. 2 and more possibly on the way), said Sparrow.
鈥淎ll of which will simply bring the TLFD to emergency services industry standards,鈥� he concluded.
The two new inspectors were positions necessary just to cover the new construction projects that are currently underway in 91原创, future planned community developments in Brookswood and Aldergrove, and the annual fire inspections for established businesses.
To further publicly celebrate all the transitions and the progress described within the Township fire department, they will mark it Saturday morning, Feb. 24 by rolling in their newest apparatus 鈥� Squad 4 鈥� at the Willoughby firehall on 72nd Avenue 鈥� the same day 19 new firefighters are being deployed for their first shift in 11 new position created within the department.
