As plans continue to unfold with the expansion of Lac La Biche County's main firehall, the municipality's top fireman is hoping to also expand the roster of all the region's fire halls.
John Kokotilo, Lac La Biche County's Regional Fire Chief and manager of the municipality's Protective Services Department, is hoping the new firehall that is being proposed will fire up enrollment in the municipality's overall fire services.
Any county resident over the age of 16 can apply to be a fire services cadet, while anyone over the age of 18 can apply to be a fire services recruit
"We will be holding our third Cadet/Recruit class this Fall," said Kokotilo when asked recently about the municipality's future plans, including recruitment and uses for the new, 20,000 square foot building on Beaver Hill Road that was most recently a car dealership and quick-lube franchise. The building, which Lac La Biche County recently agreed to purchase for $4.1 million from a holding company after the previous owners shut down the dealership, is expected to be retro-fitted for an additional $800,000 to house the Lac La Biche hamlet's main fire hall, the municipal peace officers and office space for the Protective Services department.
Kokotilo says the new building, which sits on more than three acres of commercial property, will offer more than enough space for training any new cadets and recruits.
"With our present Recruit/Cadet program – there is a total of 40 hours of training over an eight week schedule," explained Kokotilo.
Following the 40 hours of training, new cadets and recruits will have knowledge on hazardous materials, vehicle extrication, ladder work, breathing apparatus, ropes and knots, protective equipment, water supply and WHMS, along with several other areas vital to the firefighter job.
"This program gives our recruits/cadets enough experience and knowledge to assist our present firefighters at incidents after they complete the program," said Kokotilo.
At all the firehalls across the municipality, a current roster of 65 certified firefighters also take weekly training sessions. Kokotilo says all fire halls take on the same training topics so the level of service is the same in all areas of the municipality.
"Weekly training occurs at all of our stations and the same curriculum is set for our complete Department so that we train “all the same” so we can perform “all the same” and work together efficiently as a team," said the municipal fire boss.
As well as equipment training and fire attack strategies, certification sessions are also available for firefighters. Kokotilo says the region's fire services are overseen by many senior level firefighters with a variety of valuable certifications.
Some of those certifications include Pump Operations, Station Officer, Safety Codes and advanced first aid.
New hall by 2021
Lac La Biche hamlet's new firehall is expected to be operational in 2021. Final sale conditions and paperwork is still being done on the transaction. When the deal is finalized, the existing firehall — named after long-time firefighter Edmond Dobby Dobson — will continue to operate as a secondary equipment storage building. In the municipality's 2018 and 2019 budget documents, money was being earmarked for a new firehall to be constructed. Initial plans had a new-build plan for a facility directly south-east of the Bold Center. Muncipal officials have said that plan would have cost approximately $6 million.
Despite the recent attention on the new firehall in the Lac La Biche hamlet, Kokotilo would like to see new recruits coming to all rural firehalls.
Fire department members are paid for training sessions and responding to calls and other duties.
Anyone interested in learning more about joining one of the municipality's five firehalls (Lac La Biche, Plamondon, Owl River, Rich Lake and Hylo) can contact the Protective Services Department through the municipality's website at www.laclabichcounty.com.