In terms of response times, the Town of Westlock Fire Department is well above average.
When giving his 2012 annual report to town councillors at their March 11 meeting, town fire chief Stuart Koflick reported the department’s average response time was eight minutes and 45 seconds.
That time is measured from the moment a call is received at the dispatch centre until the trucks arrive on scene, and is well below national fire prevention standards.
“From the time the call is received in the fire dispatch centre to the time we arrive on scene needs to be 10 minutes or less, 90 per cent of the time,” Koflick said.
Mayor Bruce Lennon found the department’s achievement impressive.
“I found it really amazing considering there’s no one actually at the hall most times,” he said.
“They have to go there, get the equipment and get to the scene.”
Koflick said his members have been getting busier over the past few years.
In 2012, the department responded to 164 different incidents, an increase from the 150 calls responded to in 2011. In 2010, wheels were set in motion 146 times.
Of those 164 incidents, the two most common were motor vehicle collisions at 28 per cent, and alarms at 39 per cent.
Fires with a dollar loss were the third most common calls at 11 per cent.
The busiest month of 2012 was September, which call the trucks leave the fire hall 25 times. August was number two with 18 calls, followed by January and February with 17 calls each. April was the least busy month, with only six calls. March had eight and December only nine.
Koflick reported the department’s efforts when combating fires with dollar losses — for example house fires — are very successful.
Last year, the estimated value of properties that suffered fire damage was $603,130. Thanks to the work of town firefighters, he said the value of lost or damaged property was only $147,100, meaning the efforts of the fire fighters saved more than three-quarters the value of the properties.
“You look at the comparison to what could have been lost as a total loss to the value of the property that has been saved, that’s really good,” he said.
Of course, the department would not be able to do all its good work without the dedication of its 25 volunteer members and the support they get from town council.
“Councillors have great respect for the guys and they certainly do have great respect for the department and vice versa,” Koflick said.
“We certainly thank council for their support because at the end of the day they’re the bosses and we want to ensure that we are providing services to the residents of the town of Westlock to the best of our ability.”
