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Trucks may be cut from local fire stations MIKE ADLER madler@insidetoronto.com
dispatching may “mitigate” increases in response time from the loss of trucks.
Two fire stations in eastern Scarborough are slated to lose one truck each in a move to hold down the Toronto Fire Services budget. And while the department is promising only “a marginal increase in response times” after the cuts, at least one Scarborough councillor isn’t so sure. “I want to know the coverage we expect is still maintained,” said Ron Moeser, who expected to meet today with Toronto Fire Chief Jim Sales to discuss Station 215, which is in his Scarborough East ward. “If that’s compromised, then I’m going to be upset about it.” As part of his department’s proposed 2013 gross operating budget of $369 million, Sales presented a plan to close one Swansea fire station altogether and, in four other stations, cut the number of trucks from two to one. Station 215 is on Lawrence Avenue East at Centennial Road. Station 213, which is in the same district (www.toronto.ca/fire/stations/
‘Significant impact’
Staff photo/ALAN SHACKLETON
This sign has been put up in front of the Port Union fire station on Lawrence Avenue.
east_command.htm) on Lapsley Road at Burrows Hall Boulevard is also slated to lose a truck. “Removal of secondary vehicles in fire stations will increase the number
of runs for the remaining vehicle, as well as for vehicles in adjacent fire halls,” a briefing note to city hall’s budget committee acknowledged this week, but said improvements in
Ed Kennedy, president of the Toronto Professional Fire Fighters Association, said the reorganization will have a “significant impact” on response times, enough to put residents and firefighters at risk. Instead of arriving at a fire simultaneously, a second truck near one of the two Scarborough stations could be 30 seconds or a minute behind the first, Kennedy said. “In our business, seconds make the difference, not minutes.” Kennedy said the five stations were targeted because they respond to the least amount of calls, but they still respond to on average 1,000 per year and cutting them back is “not fair to someone around the corner,” he said, suggesting nearby residents should call councillors to say “this cannot happen.” Assigned to Station 215 himself, Kennedy said the area has seen population growth, particularly in
Port Union. A single truck may also be missing from a fire hall, “two or three times, minimum” during a week for training or maintenance, he said. The Lawrence Avenue station is also responsible for responding to emergencies at chemical plants in the Manse Valley area, which are linked to a siren warning system as part of special precautions. Moeser said every possible effect from the cut, including a “worst-case scenario,” must be examined. He admitted there are budgetary pressures across the city and “part of our job is to look at working efficiently” but said he wants to make sure no one in the community is put at risk. Raymond Cho, councillor for the Malvern and Burrows Hall areas, could not be reached for comment about Station 213 this week. The city’s 2013 operating budget is set to be approved next month. Toronto Council is also expected next March to hear results of an organizational study, which could change how the city’s fire and emergency medical services are delivered.
Benefit concert set for family that lost everything in house fire RAHUL GUPTA rgupta@insidetoronto.com Organizers of a benefit concert for a Cedarbrae family are asking the community to come out in support of a family who lost everything in a recent house fire. The concert, in support of the Hickman family, takes place Thursday, Dec. 20, at P.C. Ho Theatre in the Chinese Cultural Centre of Greater Toronto at Sheppard and Progress avenues. The event features performances from the acapella quartet Cadence as well as a children’s choir from the Bendale Bible Chapel. Toronto Raptors announcer Herbie Kuhn will be the emcee and a raffle is planned, said co-organizer Carri Brown. Tickets are $20 and all benefits will go to the Hickman family, who lost all of their possessions in the three-alarm fire, which started in the early morning of Nov. 4 at their home on Cedar Brae Boulevard. Brown organized an earlier fund-
raiser at Cedarbrook Public School where she teaches, but wanted to come up with a seasonal event that would provide entertainment and a few hours of distraction for the Hickmans, who have had to temporarily relocate to a house near St. Clair Avenue and Kingston Road. “I started thinking about what else we could do,” said Brown, who currently teaches the Hickmans’ 10-year-old daughter, Sabrina. “An idea of an uplifting evening kept coming into my mind.” Co-organizer Patsy Hamilton said the benefit concert, one of several fundraisers organized to assist the Hickmans, shows the resolve of the community to come together and help a family in need. “It’s such a blessing,” she said. “We’ve seen involvement from so many people.” Heather Hickman can’t believe the kindness total strangers have shown her family since the fire. “It’s just been so overwhelming, from the extent of the devastation
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to the way the community has come together,” said Hickman from the rented house where she and the rest of the family are staying for the next four months. Hickman, who works at the Olive Bar and Grill in Bridlewood Mall, was fast asleep when her daughter Sabrina came into her bedroom complaining about smelling smoke. Thinking it was outside, the mother of three went outside to check. She felt an intense heat coming from the garage. She opened the door to see a bright orange “fireball”. Immediately she rushed into the house and collected the rest of the family plus their three dogs and ran back outside. “It was right out of the movies,” said Hickman. She said neighbours and friends came by providing clothing and supplies, comforting the grief-stricken family as the home burned. Victim Services Toronto also arranged for the Red Cross to drop off clothes
and coupons for groceries. The fire caused widespread damage to the house. And because the family didn’t have insurance,
they were not able to replace any of their possessions. Though the family was unharmed, >>>DONATIONS, page 9
Blood donor clinic to be held in honour of student A blood donor clinic will be held in honour of a local student. Jessica Dunn, 13, is a Grade 8 Joseph Howe student who is battling osteosarcoma. This summer, she had her leg amputated and had four tumors removed from one lung and is in the hospital now preparing for more surgery on her other lung. Her story is being documented online by her mother at CaringBridge www.caringbridge.org/visit/jdunnie99. The clinic will be at St. Dunstan’s Church, at 56 Lawson Rd., on Friday,
Dec. 21 from 2 to 7 p.m. Call 1-888-2DONATE to set up an appointment to donate. The Canadian Blood Services is putting up extra beds for the Dec. 21 clinic and is prepared to extend their hours if they get a really good response. Check the Canadian Blood Services website at www.blood.ca to see if you are eligible. To donate, you must be at least 17 years of age, in general good health, and feeling well on the day of your donation. The minimum interval between blood donations is 56 days.
December 10 th - 23 rd
plus tax
On BIG MAC® Extra Value Meals For a limited time only. At participating McDonald’s® restaurants in Canada.
©2012 McDonald’s. “Coca-Cola” is a registered trademark of Coca-Cola Ltd., used under Llicense.
Hurry in to your local Scarborough McDonald’s Restaurant. Offer only valid until December 23rd.
| SCARBOROUGH MIRROR | Friday, December 14, 2012
scm@insidetoronto.com