A potential agreement between the townships of Head, Clara, Maria and the Whitewater Region (Cobden, Beachburg and area) to provide auto extrication service on Highway 17 has not gone anywhere just yet.
But “I certainly hope it does,” says HCM Mayor Debbi Grills.
“This is really important to me. I’ve been working at it for close to eight years now,” she said.
Whitewater council agreed earlier this month to negotiate terms of an agreement with HCM.
The section of Highway 17 from Colton Creek Road (just past Rolphton) west to Bissett Creek has not had dedicated auto extrication capability for several years.
“Residents, visitors, and motorists travelling through this corridor do not have access to the same level of emergency response services typically available elsewhere in Renfrew County,” Whitewater Fire Chief Jonathan McLaren told his council.
“This service gap also presents operational challenges for police and paramedic services, which generally rely on fire departments for extrication support within this area due to its staffing capacity and demonstrated experience in technical rescue and extrication operations.”
The proposed response model would deploy four firefighters utilizing a pickup truck equipped with basic extrication tools.
Estimated response times for Whitewater firefighters would range between 60 and 90 minutes.
“While extended, these response times are consistent with those experienced in many remote and rural areas of Ontario,” said Chief McLaren…
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