Fire Chief Ted Dillon told councillors the retention and recruitment committee he serves on with the Alberta Fire Chief’s Association is receiving interest from provinces such as Manitoba and Ontario.
New programs hope to be announced this year.
“We may possibly go to bigger advertising.”
Statistics for the Ponoka Fire Department were presented to councillors with a breakdown of callouts in a day during 2012. Dillon said the middle of the day appears to be their busiest times.
“Three to five (p.m.) I think.”
Total numbers for the year showed 180 calls with 2,481 attending hours.
The statistics show a breakdown of calls.
• Town of Ponoka had 70. Of those 11 were fire related (such as structure and auto fires), six were grass fires, six were motor vehicle collisions, 27 were alarms with no fire, 10 were other agency assists and 10 were public service (such as assisting with a water main break, fuel spill or a downed power line).
• Ponoka County had 65 calls. Sixteen were fire calls, 11 were grass fires, 11 were motor vehicle collisions, 20 were alarms with no fire, four were agency assists and three were public service. • Alberta Transportation had 41 calls. Two were fires, five were grass fires, 33 were motor vehicle collisions and one was a public service call.
• Mutual aid and other areas had four calls; one grass fire and three fires. There were 1,575 practice hours and 1,336 outside training hours. The department had 26 members for 2012 compared to 24 in 2011.
Snow rakes on arena
Wes Amendt, director of community services, told councillors construction of snow rakes has begun at the Ponoka and Culture Recreation Complex. He also said work is being done to fix issues with the sound system.
“We’ve been having some issues with the speakers. Really tinny and awful.”
He is unsure what the issues are but it is being investigated.
Ag centre AGM Coun. Doug Gill, who is the president of the Ponoka Ag Event Centre Society, told councillors the society is meeting every week in January before their annual general meeting (AGM).
“It is on Jan. 28 at 5:15 p.m….That will take place at the ag event centre, everybody is welcome.”
The society is meeting with an auditor on Jan. 21 before its AGM. He said the Canadian Professional Rodeo Hall of Fame has also requested more space to display their artifacts. “That’s in the works.” The classroom for the rodeo academy will stay the same however.