Operations and Training

Across Canada, the majority of rescue incidents fire departments respond to are vehicle extrications. A victim who is trapped in or by a vehicle may be seriously injured.

Proper extrication procedures prevent further injury and help get the victim to safety as quickly as possible. It is also critical that firefighters coordinate with emergency medical personnel who are providing patient care to the victim. The general practice is not to remove the victims from the car, but to remove the car away from the victims (e.g., cutting the roof and doors off of the vehicle).

Dryden Fire Service has auto extrication tools (i.e., Jaws of Life). All firefighters are trained in the use of these tools, as well as the hazards found in the latest automobiles, including air bags, pressurized bumpers, and pressurized seatbelt containers. Learn more about our tools, equipment and vehicles.

When a fire occurs, emergency response is extremely important. Dryden Fire Service personnel must be available to respond in order to reduce the impact and damage to the property and community.

Dryden Fire Service has 40 on-call fire personnel that respond 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.. Our team averages 9-minute response times to calls in the Dryden urban area.

It is important to highlight the difference between rescues and recoveries when it comes to drowning and other water related incidents. Rescues are situations where a victim is stranded, floundering or has been submerged for a short period of time. In these cases, there is potential for saving the victim. Recoveries are situations where a victim has been submerged for such a long period of time that he or she is presumed deceased, and the goal of the operation is to recover the body.

Mutual Aid is an agreement between participating fire services in the Dryden area to assist each other with resources when emergencies occur. The Dryden Fire Service has a long-established strategic alliance that offers aid to our neighboring fire services.

The Dryden Fire Service is a proud member of the Kenora District Mutual Fire Aid Association. This system is intended to provide fire protection services efficiently, effectively and safely through a cooperative and flexible approach.

The mutual aid plan improves the level of public safety for everyone in the entire District. Dryden Fire Service has called upon other surrounding departments for water tankers at large fires, transport incidents with multiple extrications, technical advice, training needs, and fire prevention events.

The Dryden Fire Service Training Plan ensures that all department personnel are trained to respond appropriately and focused on our mission to prevent emergencies, save lives and protect property and the environment. Our training topics and objectives ensure all personnel receive the knowledge and skills required to perform all duties that meet or exceed industry standards.

The Dryden Fire Service training plan is a combined effort to use the time associated with weekly hall checks, monthly scenario training, seasonal operational scenarios and advanced certification in specialized courses.

The Dryden Fire Service trains staff using the NFPA 1403 compliant "Live Fire" training scenarios. Live fire training is necessary to prepare firefighters for the dangerous and challenging environments they will encounter. We have constructed our live fire training using actual fire conditions experienced at past fires. It is important to balance new techniques in modern fire attack with the older water flow methods to ensure our team is ready for any size of fire.

Hazardous materials have become a concern in cities with commercial and industrial businesses. Incidents like Hamilton's Plastimet Recycling fire in 1998, Hagersville Tire fire in 1995 and Toronto's regular industrial fires have raised community concern over chemicals used in local businesses or being transported through the city.

To deal with these concerns, municipalities and fire departments decide which level of response they will prepare and train to address. There are 3 levels of emergency response which determine the skills firefighters learn and practice, and the tools we use to manage the situation:

• Awareness Level (basic level)
• Operations Level (intermediate)
• Technical Level (comprehensive)

Dryden Fire Service trains and responds at the Operations Level, allowing crews to arrive, suit up in air-tight protective suits, rescue any victims, and use special tools to contain liquid chemical or gas releases.

For the most serious hazardous material spills or releases, Dryden Fire Service crews contain the situation and then the federal chemical emergency advisory centre (CANUTEC) provides contact to appropriate outside agencies for further assistance at the Technician Level.

Dryden Fire Service maintains a shared Hazardous Materials Resource Trailer which is available at the local pulp mill 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for any hazardous materials emergencies. The Mill has an Emergency Response Team that is trained to Operations Level as well.