The Township of Lake of Bays is looking to purchase equipment to improve fire response on Bigwin Island.
HERE IS WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
At the Oct. 3 meeting, Lake of Bays council gave preliminary approval to purchase approximately $80,000 worth of fire suppression equipment for Bigwin Island Inc., a not-for-profit waterfront association.
Council also directed staff to negotiate the terms of an agreement with Bigwin Island Inc. and bring forward a bylaw at a future meeting.
WHY GETTING THE EQUIPMENT IS IMPORTANT?
According to a report presented to council, staff and residents in the area recognize a delay in responding to the island and continue to educate residents about smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.
"Smoke and CO alarms have become the first line of defence in providing timely alerts that allow residents the opportunity to evacuate quickly and encourage all new homeowners and those looking to renovate to consider installing residential sprinklers," according to the report.
The island is currently equipped with a fire suppression cart that still needs to be set up to complete fire suppression activities.
"If there was an incident ... the fire boat has the pump on the water," said fire Chief Gary Monahan. "Our problem is we need something on the island to drive all the hose and all the equipment down to us, as opposed to us going up with the equipment."
According to the report, the suppression cart that the association currently owns is not maintained regularly, the equipment is challenging to deploy, and more equipment is needed to start water supply or suppression activities.
"This cart would eliminate the need for fire crews to unload the fire apparatus of fire suppression equipment into the marine unit before responding, saving valuable response time," the report reads.
The equipment on the cart would be owned by the township and maintained monthly by the Port Cunnington Fire Station members.
PREVIOUS CONCERNS
"Township staff met with Bigwin Island staff in the fall of 2019 and raised several concerns that included the 911 numbering system and lack of fire suppression equipment on the Island," the report reads.
Then, in 2021, staff submitted a draft proposal to Bigwin Island staff that included a list of suppression equipment required to develop the island's suppression activities.
"There was no movement on this proposal until Bigwin Island staff contacted township staff after a large grass fire on the Island in November 2022," the report reads.
