Council ties up loose ends at fire department

At a December 1 in camera meeting Cramahe Council appointed staffer, Jim Harris, as its interim Fire Chief, effective immediately. At its regular meeting on December 15, council passed the bylaw making it official.

Mr. Harris's role will be purely administrative. All incident command work will be handled by the two deputy chiefs, Gary Cammack and John Jakab, appointed on December 15.

Chief Harris stated in an earlier interview New chief moves forward that Mr. Cammack had new responsibilities in his work which made it difficult to complete the required administrative duties as chief.

Mr. Harris will remain in the position for six months, or until all the administrative requirements are in place. Cramahe will advertise for a new chief at that time.

The township cleared up some other fire department business on December 15, passing a new bylaw governing the operation of the service. The new bylaw replaces a one-page document previously on the township books. The new bylaw fulfills a need to inform the residents of the township what emergency services are offered by the township.

Fire suppression, emergency response, fire prevention and fire safety education are all provided. To help his men become better qualified to do their work the chief is sending some of them for training. Some will take 17-day college courses, others will go to the Eastern Ontario Fire Academy in Norwood.

Chief Harris says this training is part of making the force “more compliant” with provincial guidelines.

Once he has the department in order he expects to dedicate 1-2 days per week to this part of his job.