OFM Public Education – February 2018

What’s the risk in February?
2006-2015 Ontario avg. fire losses, Office of the Fire Marshal and Emergency Management:

  • 8% of annual loss fires occur in February
  • Average of 41 injuries
  • Average of 8 fire fatalities
  • Top ignition sources include electrical distribution equipment, cooking, and heating equipment (typically woodstoves and chimneys).

Fire Safety
Primary fire safety concerns for February include cooking, heating equipment, electrical distribution equipment, and carbon monoxide.

Cooking Fire Safety
Electrical Fire Safety
Heating Fire Safety
What is carbon monoxide?
How to prevent carbon monoxide

Winter Fire Safety

Fire Safety During Power Outages
Ontario Association of Fire Chiefs Winter Fire Safety Tips
TSSA Winter Wise Handbook
TSSA Winter Wise Brochure

Detection

Fire Safety Equipment

Escape

Plan Your Escape

2017 Christmas Parade of Lights !

The Christmas Parade of Lights was held on Saturday November 25th. It started @ 6:00 pm at the nursing home and made its way to Mike Rodden Arena.

The Mattawa Fire Department float has been updated. New reindeer signed up this year and took their place at the front of the sled !

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First responders including the police, EMS, and firefighters participated in the parade. Businesses, organizations, and residents from Mattawa and the surrounding townships joined the parade on floats and foot. Mattawa Fire Department would like to sincerely thank all participants for their efforts. Each year, prizes are awarded for best float, $100.00 for 1st place, $75.00 for 2nd place, and $50.00 for 3rd place.

This year, F.J.McElligott Voyageurs, Mattawa Mental Health Support Centre, Mattawa Rockets, Foodland, École Élémentaire Catholique Sainte-Anne and École Secondaire Catholique Élisabeth-Bruyère, St. Alban Anglican Church, Home Hardware, Papineau Cameron Fire Department and Gingras RC entered in the competition.
 

 
The Mattawa Rockets took 1st place. Thanks to the coaching staff and parents for making the kids part of this! Thanks to sponsors that supported the Mattawa Rockets with the float, Anderson Trucking and Twiggs and Berries! Rumour has it that the awesome cheering by the participating kids helped with the 1st place finish!
 
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The Papineau Cameron Fire Department took 2nd place with their Lego costumes. Their float displayed the fire safety message that was promoted by the Ontario Fire Marshall’s office this year in Fire Prevention Week, Have two ways out!.

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Richard Gingras took 3rd place with a collection of remote control cars.
 

 
Santa and the reindeer took up the rear of the parade.


 

 
Fun was had by all parade attendees at the arena! Many thanks to all families that came out to support the event! Free skating was enjoyed!

Refreshments were served.

Santa chatted with the kids and handed out!

We invite Mattawa and surrounding townships to make this bigger and better next year!

 

 
Many thanks to Josie Dinsmore Photography for sharing her 2017 Christmas Parade of Lights album ! Click on the Facebook icon to see all the photos!

Mattawa's 2017 Christmas Parade Of Lights!

Posted by Josie Dinsmore Photography on Thursday, December 7, 2017

Kidde Recall of Fire Extinguishers

The Office of the Fire Marshal and Emergency Management (OFMEM) has made the Mattawa Fire Department aware of a recall of fire extinguishers manufactured by Kidde between March 2009 and February 2015.

Consumer inquiries should be immediately directed to contact Kidde at (855) 233-2882 between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. EST Monday-Friday (excluding holidays), or between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. during the weekend to determine whether their extinguishers are affected. They may also visit www.KiddeCanada.com.

Read Kidde Recall Notice.

2017 Fire Safety and Awareness Open House Great Success!

The second annual fire safety and awareness open house was held on Saturday, Sept. 9, 2017 at the Mattawa Fire Hall.

Many families visited and learned more about the numerous tasks that the firefighters perform; they were able to inspect the fire equipment. In addition, many live demonstrations were carried out in the parking lot some of which included participation by attendees. Many businesses contributed to the events and demonstrations as noted below.

The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) and local Emergency Medical Services (EMS) also had representatives attending the event. Families were able to tour the respective vehicles from both agencies and get information about their respective services.

Sparky, the department mascot, enthusiastically participated in the event!

Mattawa Fire Equipment


 
Our future firefighters…
 

 

OPP Equipment

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Our future police force…
 

 
The OPP brought their high tech toys. They demonstrated their drone. So here is looking at the open house from an entirely different perspective…
 

 

EMS Equipment


 

Sparky

Of course, Sparky, the department mascot, tried to steal the show! Do you know The Story of Sparky the Fire Dog ?
 
Everyone enjoyed having their photos taken with the famous Dalmatian.
 


 

Extrication Procedures

The Mattawa Fire Department would like to thank Monette’s Towing for providing a vehicle that could be used to demonstrate extrication procedures. Firefighters are often called to the scene of motor vehicle accidents and on occasion the vehicle occupants are trapped.
 
The jaws of life and many other extrication tools assist the firefighters in removing the occupants from the vehicles. Several firefighters demonstrated extrication procedures to open house attendees.
 


 

Refreshments

Visitors and volunteers enjoyed coffee and Timbits courtesy of the Mattawa Tim Hortons.

Fire Chief Chad Belanger was the chef for the event. Hot dogs and drinks were served to visitors and volunteers. Many thanks to Huard’s Freshmart for their donation of a portion of the refreshments.

Fire Extinguisher Demonstrations

Ever wonder how difficult it is to use a fire extinguisher? Some attendees were able to find out. A representative from Helyx set up demonstration equipment and, after providing a brief demonstration, gave the fire extinguisher to other volunteers. It is not as easy as it looks!
 


 

Water and Ice Rescue Sled

Perhaps it is not widely known, but the Mattawa Fire Department owns a water and ice rescue sled and immersion suits. The equipment was on display at the open house. This equipment was purchased several years ago to assist with ice water rescue should the need occur.
 


 
Glenn and Leslie Clarke were able to attend the open house and were recognized for their generous donation towards this equipment (read more of their story…).
 

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Mattawa Fire Department visits full time RV families at Sid Turcotte Park Camping and Cottage Resort

A mid-September 2017 weekend brought a number of full time RV families from the US to Sid Turcotte Park Camping and Cottage Resort for a Canadian rally (EH!). A number of organized activities were included in the weekend for the participating families. The Mattawa Fire Department was invited to speak to the attendees at a fire safety seminar. Sparky happened to be in town and was able to visit with the kids while they inspected a few fire vehicles.

Local family supports purchase of ice rescue sled

On Friday, August 3, 2017 Glenn and Leslie Clarke, residents of Mattawa, had to say goodbye to their family member Flick. They thought their dog Flick was a little crazy, but he was a good boy, and will be missed. Several years ago Flick had suffered an ordeal in the frozen Mattawa River. Four (4) people risked their lives that night while rescuing Flick.

To show their gratitude Glenn and Leslie made a donation towards the purchase of an ice rescue sled. With the help of the family, the Mattawa Town Council, and the Mattawa Fire Department, Mattawa purchased an ice rescue sled and named it Flick.

St. Victor’s school students visit Mattawa fire hall

St. Victor’s school students visited the Mattawa fire hall on Friday, June 23rd, 2017. The children and adult supervisors were greeted by Deputy Fire Chief Paul Dupras.

The children immediately asked whether the department had a dog! Goes to show how Sparky makes an impression. They also wondered where all the other firefighters were. It was explained to them that the firefighters are volunteers and have other jobs. There were many questions about the gear that the firefighters wear, why are the helmets different colours, questions about the man down alarms, the flashlights on the helmets, etc. Very inquisitive minds!

The kids were very excited when Fire Chief Chad Belanger arrived as now the boss was there!

In spite of the the children were able to see the gear that the firefighters wear, get into the fire trucks, tour the back of the rescue van, and see the ice water rescue equipment while nice and dry inside the fire hall.

A great time was had by all! Everyone left smiling wearing their very own fire hat!

Public school students visit the Mattawa fire hall

Mattawa District Public School jk and sk students visited the Mattawa fire hall on Wednesday, June 14th, 2017. The excited children could be heard as they walked down McConnell St. towards the fire hall. As they spotted the fire trucks that were parked outside the fire hall with all their lights flashing…

WOW those are real fire trucks!

 
The children and adult supervisors were greeted by Deputy Fire Chief Paul Dupras and firefighters Caleb Jodouin and Ernie Lamirante.

There were many questions about the gear that the firefighters wear, the ice water rescue equipment, and the fire trucks. Some of the children were eager to share stories where they had experienced some type of event related to fire.

But most of all they all wanted to get into the fire trucks, pretend to drive, blow the horns!

It certainly looked like they enjoyed their visit! Everyone left smiling wearing their very own fire hat!

Sainte-Anne’s school children visit fire hall

Students from Sainte-Anne’s elementary school visited the fire hall on 12 October, 2016. The following article appeared in the Mattawa Recorder thanking the firefighters.

Le mercredi 12 octobre 2016, les élèves de la 1re année de l’École élémentaire catholique Sainte-Anne ont visité la caserne des pompiers de Mattawa dans le cadre de la Semaine de la prévention des incendies. Les élèves voulaient connaître les responsibilités des pompiers, autre que d’éteindre les feux et de sauver les chatons du haut des arbres. Grâce à la présentation animée par messieurs les pompiers Lamirante et Dupras, les élèves ont appris que les pompiers de notre communauté offrent un service de secours sur l’easu et sur la glace. De plus, ils veillent aux premiers soins des personnes victimes d’un accident routier en attendant l’arrivée des services paramédicaux. Les élèves ont compté dix bornes-fontaines lors de la marche de l’école à la caserne. Ils ont appris qu’il y a soixante-dix bornes-fontaines en tout dans notre communauté. Les pompiers, ayant récemment combattu un feu de maison, ont rappelé aux élèves l’importance de vérifier les détecteurs de fumée et de dioxyde de carbone afin qu’ils soient en bon état. De plus, ils ont encouragé les élèves de réviser le plan d’évacuation de la maison avec tous les membres de leur famille.

A very big thank you to Firefighter Dupras and Lamirante for the wonderful and informative presentation!