The bright red fire trucks were washed and polished, the uniforms were neatly hung, and the gear was stacked and ready for inspection at the Manitouwadge Fire Hall open house last week.
Wide-eyed kids of all ages got the chance to climb into the vehicles, check out the hoses, pumps and other equipment, and visit with Fire Chief Don Kruger and his team of volunteer firefighters on Oct. 13. There were door prizes, cake, kids' activities and even a visit from Sparky, the firefighter dog.
The fire department, together with Manitouwadge Community Services, welcomed visitors during several time slots during the day. Youngsters, aged four and under, were the first guests in the morning, and the general public was invited to visit later on in the evening.
In mid-afternoon, the team hosted a sensory-friendly tour for children on the autism spectrum. They recognized the need to modify the tour for those who may find such an experience overwhelming. Lights, sirens, loud radios and other sounds can be a source of stress and anxiety for some, and these barriers may prevent them from joining in on this type of fun and educational event.
As part of the 100th year celebration of Fire Prevention Week 2022, which ran from Oct. 9-15, the firefighters are focusing on the importance of having an escape plan. Kruger encourage everyone in the community to develop their own home fire escape strategy and “Plan a Record-Breaking Escape." Information and an escape plan template can be found on the Ontario Association of Fire Chiefs webpage or at #OnRecordEscape. Copies of the template are available at the township office.
The Manitouwadge volunteer firefighters are a valuable part of the town. In addition to educating the public, keeping people safe, and responding to fires and other emergencies, this dedicated team is very involved in the community, raising funds for charities, such as Muscular Dystrophy Canada. In September, they held their annual ‘Boot Drive’, where volunteers collected funds at the roundabout in Manitouwadge. They raised $900 during that event, but at their monthly meeting, the volunteer Firefighters' Association passed a motion to match that amount, resulting in an overall donation of $1,800