Oct 6 to 12, 2024 is Fire Prevention Week. The Hanna Fire Department has responded to 92 incidents so far this year which is close to an average amount for us. This spring we were busy with regional training as we completed a couple of different pump courses as well as a couple of hazmat courses.
We will be holding our first ever National Fire Protection Association 1001 Firefighter 2 course later this fall. This spring also seen continued construction on the Burn/Training Tower Site south of the fire hall. This phase was for the installation of outdoor flammable liquid burn props that will allow us to instruct the next level of firefighting courses that we were previously unable to teach locally. This was all funded by our partner municipalities contributions and fundraising from our members.
The theme this year for fire prevention week is “Smoke Alarms: Make Them Work for You” Smoke Alarms can make a life-saving difference in a home fire, but they must be working in order to do so.
“Statistics have shown that a working Smoke Alarm cuts your chances of dying in a fire in half. Fires that happen in homes account for the majority of all fire deaths. Batteries should be checked monthly and replaced at least once a year. Smoke alarms should be replaced every ten years”
Every family should take the time to create a fire escape plan and to practice it a couple of times during Fire Prevention Week. A good fire escape plan should have 2 ways out in case the first exit path is blocked by fire. Make sure that you have a predetermined meeting place outside so you can account for everyone. I would ask all the citizens of Hanna and the surrounding area to take the time to inspect their homes carefully for fire and injury hazards. Also please remember that in the Hanna area you need only to call 911 to contact the RCMP, EMS or the Fire Department. Even if you have a friend or neighbor that is a volunteer firefighter it is always best to call 911 instead as that will allow us to respond quickly with the right resources for your incident.
Thanks to all the members of the Hanna Fire Department who respond to incidents at any time day or night. A very special thank you to the members families who are always so supportive. Thanks to the members employers who allow the firefighters to leave work with no notice. I would also like to thank the Town of Hanna Administration for the support the department receives in the day-to-day operations, the Hanna Town Council, Special Areas Board, and Administration for their continued support.
David Mohl, Fire Chief
Hanna Fire Department