10-12-94 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

MINUTES CITY COUNCIL OCTOBER 12, 1994 Department as a whole in containing that fire. Dick Boss, Fire Chief, reported that the week of October 9th through the 15th is Fire Prevention Week. Boss reported it was his feeling that the largest responsibility of the Fire Department is fire prevention. The Little Canada Fire Department spends a tremendous amount of time and energy in this regard. The Chief outlined the Department's smoke detector give-away program, 850 smoke detectors have been distributed throughout the City. Fire fighters have also installed these detectors for those who are unable to do so, and have checked and replaced batteries in detectors as well. The Chief noted that this is the silent part of saving lives. The Chief noted the potential for a tremendous tragedy in the Canabury Townhome fire that occurred last April 9th. This fire devastated townhomes, garages, cars, personal belongings. The damage could have been much worse and lives could have been lost if it had not been for the professionalism and dedication of the Little Canada fire fighters. The Chief noted that there were 125 fire fighters and 11 fire departments on the scene of the townhome fire. The Chief reported that there are 27 fire departments involved in a mutual aid agreement which provide assistance to one another whenever needed. The Chief noted that while the entire Little Canada Fire Department was fighting the townhome fire, fire fighters from the Vadnais Heights and White Bear Lake Fire Departments staffed Little Canada's fire station to provide coverage to the rest of the City. The Chief noted that Little Canada's fire department is a volunteer department. These volunteers undergo a great deal of training, however. The Chief reported that in addition to the efforts of the fire department during the townhome fire, there was a Highway Patrol officer and three Sheriff's Department deputies who arrived on the scene and began evacuation of the townhomes. Many lives may have been saved through their efforts, and the City did acknowledge their gratitude and expressed their thanks to these individuals. 4