New equipment helps Norfolk firefighters

By Bob Wood

A rash of fires in Norfolk County has emphasized the importance of our volunteer firefighters to the community.

Norfolk County is investing in critical equipment to enhance firefighter health and safety.

When fire services began in the early 1800s, firefighters needed protection from the hazardous smoke and toxic gases. The earliest attempts involved firefighters growing beards, dipping them in water, and then biting down on the beard while breathing through their mouth. The idea was that the wet beard would act as a filter for the smoke.

Now, 200 years later, self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA), allow firefighters to breath air from cylinders.

A provincial fire protection grant available to municipalities is intended to support cancer prevention and allow fire departments to purchase mobile SCBA filling units.

At the Feb. 11 council-in-committee meeting, county staff recommended purchase of a mobile filling unit be moved forward from the 2026 capital budget to this year. Staff was concerned that a trade war between Canada and the United States could escalate the cost of such equipment.

The staff report said, “having the capability to refill breathing air cylinders at emergency scenes will enable personnel to maintain operational SCBA units effectively.”

There are 11 fire stations in Norfolk. Currently, an entire station may have to be dispatched to transport empty cylinders to the nearest station with an air compressor and filling capabilities. The acquisition of a mobile unit would eliminate such requirements.

The fire station in Port Rowan became operational in 1953. It has 18 volunteers and responds to 50 calls each year. St. Williams and Vittoria have larger volunteer groups of 24 and each respond to approximately 60 calls each year, according to the fire department’s website.

Originally printed in The Good News, March 2025.