Lakeland fire crews kept busy over the weekend

There in our community to save lives and keep us safe. Yes, they’re our firefighters and they were kept busy in the Lakeland Region this weekend.

On Friday, July 23, Station 8 from Ardmore, Station 7 from Fort Kent, and Station 5 from Bonnyville responded to a structure fire at 49 Street and 51 Ave in Ardmor just after 2:00 p.m.

On Saturday around 6:20 a.m., Station 6 from LaCorey, Station 4 from Iron River, and Station 5 from Bonnyville responded to a structure fire at Twp 632 and RR 460, North of LaCorey. Later that day at 3:50 p.m., Station 6 LaCorey and Sation 4 Iron River responded to the same address for some smoldering and flare-ups.

While crews are responding to any incidents, such as an emergency vehicle,  fire truck, police car or ambulance, and it approaches with its siren on, be aware of your surroundings and be prepared to act. Here is what to do when an emergency vehicle approaches with its siren on.

An emergency vehicle with its siren on has the right of way over all other vehicles.

1. Immediately pull over as close to the curb as possible, remaining parallel to the road. Typically, you should pull over to the right. Make sure you are not in the middle of an intersection and use your turn signal.
2. Stop and remain stopped until the emergency vehicle has passed and it is clear no other emergency vehicles are approaching.
3. When the emergency vehicle has passed, be courteous and let drivers ahead of you back into traffic. Use your turn signal.
4. Do not drive within 150 metres of an emergency vehicle with its siren and/or flashing lights on. For reference, 150 m is nearly 1.5 times the length of a football field.

“The second point is vital in ensuring emergency vehicles can pass safely, especially on the highway,” Dan Heney Regional Deputy Chief of the Bonnyville Regional Fire Authority told Lakeland Connect. “Vehicles that pull over but don’t stop create a situation where we may be passing between two sets of moving vehicles, essentially becoming three wide across the highway. That leaves us very little margin for error for dealing with issues like the other vehicles are as wide as us or for road imperfections that are amplified at higher speeds.”

Deputy Chief Heney says they are not interested in creating any unreasonable delays in people’s day, but it is much safer for all involved if you pull over and stop until they make it past.

“As we often respond to incidents along with police and EMS, drivers need to watch closely for other emergency vehicles that might be right behind us,” Deputy Chief Heney said.

Station 5 from Bonnyville had a little different task from fighting fires on Saturday as they had a crew doing standby for Clayton Bellamy’s video shoot. They also had a crew acting as official witnesses for Leland Warburton’s world record attempt yesterday.

Last night at 11:55 p.m. crews were on the move again as Station 3 from Glendon responded to a Medical Assist in Therien.

Then at 6:15 a.m. this morning, July 26, Station 5 from Bonnyville responded to fire alarms ringing at the Bonnyville Indian-Metis Rehabilitation Centre.

There were no injuries as a result of any of the fires.

Arthur@lakelandconnect.thedev.ca