RIVERS
BANNER October 21, 2016
ersary v i n Celebrating our 108th An
Gazette-Reporter Serving the Rivers, Rapid City and Oak River areas for 107 years
Volume 109, Issue 17
89¢ + tax
Marking Fire Prevention Week
By Richard Brown Fire Chief
Oct. 9 was the start of another fire prevention week throughout Manitoba. This year’s theme was Don’t Wait, Check the Date which served as a reminder to replace your smoke alarms every 10 years. This year Ryan MacLellan, Brian Mitchell and Richard Brown of the Rivers/ Daly Fire Department went to Rivers Elementary School to give informational speeches on fire prevention and safety. We discussed the importance of checking the date on your smoke detector as well as to test your smoke alarm monthly. We also expressed the importance of having an escape plan that should be practised with your family as often as possible. We gave reminders to everyone that knowing their physical address — whether it is your section township range, civic address or your house number with street and avenue — is also important, so that if an emergency happens, the fire department, ambulance or police can get to the residence as soon as possible. Just a quick reminder to everyone: having your house number on your house and visible from the street is very important. Keeping your civic address clear of snow, shrubs, etc. is also important. With help from Rivers Elementary School, our department drew names for one flashlight per classroom. Congratulations to the winners of the flashlights, which were donated by Captain Byron McMurachy. We also had a draw for two smoke detectors; these were donated by the fire department. Grade 4 student Hailey Howarth and kindergarten kid Jan Raupers went home with the detectors. Our annual draw for fire chief and deputy chief of the day were won by Nicholas Lade and Rainn Paddock respectively. Nicholas was picked up by Richard Brown and Ryan
Fire Chief Richard Brown appoints Nicholas Lade fire chief of the day on Oct. 9. Photo by Stine Lade
MacLellan; rather than a bus ride from his farm north of Rivers, he had a fire engine ride to school that day (Oct. 9). We also picked Nicholas and Rainn up at lunch time (in the fire truck) and treated them to a meal at The Honey House Bakery and Cafe. They were joined by fire Chief Richard Brown, deputy Chief Jeff Worth, firefighter Ryan MacLellan and Captain Jim Duthie. After lunch we took them back to school. We then waited for the classrooms to settle down, went into the school and pulled the fire alarm. Department responded with the fire trucks, just as if it were a real alarm. Once on scene we
made sure there were no missing students and that all classroom doors were closed and lights were left on. Rivers Elementary did a fantastic job during the fire drill and we thank them for their co-operation during fire prevention week. On Oct. 14 Chief Brown, with his sidekick (son Ryan Brown), paid a visit to Prairie Crocus Regional Library. During their reading program he spoke briefly to local children about fire prevention and fire safety. He also spoke to parents about checking smoke detectors monthly, checking the dates on their smoke detectors, as well as having a smoke detector on
every floor and in every bedroom. I appreciate the invitation from the library to speak. If anyone in the town/municipality has any questions regarding fire safety they can go to firecomm.gov.mb.ca/safety_
education.html or contact any member of the fire department. A tip of the hat to department members who took time away from their jobs to help out with fire prevention week.