A local fire crew will be better equipped to respond to emergencies, thanks to a financial shot in the arm from the provincial government.
On July 7th, Kenora-Rainy River MPP Greg Rickford stopped in at the Mckenzie-Clearwater Fire Department’s headquarters on the west highway to provide a total $49,640 to the KeeMan Local Services Board, with all of it set to go towards the staff and infrastructure at the fire hall.
“The Mckenzie-Clearwater Fire Department serves one of the largest geographical regions in the province, protecting communities throughout Northwestern Ontario during wildfire season and beyond,” Rickford said via media release.
“This investment reflects our government’s sustained support for the critical work that firefighters do throughout our region, by ensuring they have both the equipment and capacity supports they need."
The money will be delivered through the province’s Community Emergency Preparedness Grant (CEPG), which also supports small-to-medium sized municipalities, First Nations, tribal councils and Indigenous service organizations.
McKenzie- Clearwater Fire will be using the money for new fire pumps and sprinklers to better protect properties within areas of the Board, as well as an independent water supply, where previously the hall’s firefighters were reliant on lake water to combat fires.
“The sprinkler equipment grant from Emergency Measures Ontario will significantly enhance fire fighting capabilities of the McKenzie-Clearwater Fire Department by protecting 2,400 properties from encroaching forest fires or property fires on the 300 islands in the KLSB area,” added Dennis Wallace, the Chair of the KeeMan Local Services Board.
“Equipment will also be available to neighbouring jurisdictions under mutual aid agreements. We thank Minister Jill Dunlop, Minister of Emergency Preparedness and Response, for her contribution and Hon. Greg Rickford, Minister of Indigenous Affairs and First Nations Economic Reconciliation, for his support."
Since 2023, the CEPG has resulted in $15 million in investments for 342 recipients.