Muskoka Lakes Firefighters

Local taxes pay for local fire protection
I have written in support of our volunteer firefighters. We regularly visit fundraisers, and laud the work they do on land, and in the water. Our firefighters respond to all events from accidents, to drownings, to fires. They also educate the public, and entertain the kids, teaching them about fire safety.

Municipal politics seem the least understood, and one of the most important, directly affecting many of us. It is the most poorly funded, as well.

In our region of Muskoka, our precious tax dollars go towards outfitting men and women who must serve those who live in homes, cottages, in forests, on rocks, on islands, and cottage in remote locations.

With a wide range of topographies, access roads, building types, and buildings to serve, the task of fire control in Muskoka is immense. With seasonal residents away part-time, storage of hazardous materials common, and bear-proof garbage collection least understood, we are at risk on all counts.

From small to large homes, add in 100-year-old cottages,  and multi-million dollar homes, all have high expectations of the the Township of Muskoka Lakes and the District Municipality, to ensure that all of our buildings—from residences, cottages, resorts, and businesses, are well-protected.

Seasonal residents moan about tax increases, some ignoring local by-laws, while spending summers beside a sparkling lake. Building 4' untended (left) fires or old-fashioned burning of leaves, some bespeak this action as their right. Cottaging here is a luxury, and one requiring more infrastructure, not less.

Three-alarm fire in Bala



The latest three-alarm call in Bala (Fire damages garage in Bala-Cottage Country news) demonstrated our need for quick, dependable services, along a steep winding road, wide enough for only a truck...where a wood stove caused near-by cans of inflammable liquids to explode.

There was a false alarm at the motel, too, further complication matters.

 Three stations were called in, as you can see from my video and post photos, and traffic kept on moving while our men and women worked hard.

For $60,000 of damage, which could have been prevented, these able men and women prevented a much worse catastrophe in a densely-wooded area. Our trees are such a precious part of Muskoka.




Priority: quick response, top-notch equipment

I would think that a priority would be to outfit our volunteers with the best training, equipment, and technology—including transportation devices like ATVs, snowmobiles, boats, and PWCs, necessary in our climate and topography.

In addition, for laying their lives on the line, and saving municipalities thousands of dollars, surely a tax deduction is the best way to encourage them. 'Currently, volunteers get an income tax exemption of $1,000. The fire chiefs had expected that amount to increase to $3,000 in the 2010 federal budget.' What an important way of supplementing these inexpensive non-employees whose families and employers are profoundly affected by their volunteer work. The cost for 175 volunteer firefighters equals the cost of 5 full-time firefighters. We need a large number of people to cover large areas of towns, and remote forests.

Firehalls
If we close a firehall, as one lobbyist suggested, individual  home insurance will rise, as we all know. Firefighters, with their distinct green flashing lights, will drive farther and slow response times. What a measly way of refusing to pay the cost of living, working, and playing in Muskoka. Especially with citiots who know little about cottage life, swimming in unsafe locations(like the drownings at Bala Falls), setting off fireworks and having bonfires on 'fires banned' days!


Disparities in municipal/provincial/federal EMS support
I have been reading the news items, both print and on-line (see the list in the previous post), and I am confused about this issue. I am a full-time resident, a blogger who celebrates our region, and a political animal keen on discourse, as well discussion and debate. I am adamant on ensuring that our politicians are serving us to the best of their knowledge, stakeholder accountability, and abilities, with all of the information they have at hand. Provincially and federally cutbacks are all the rage. Taxpayers are demanding more services (health care, education, child welfare, employment; at municipal, provincial, federal levels) for less tax dollars. This cannot make sense.

We have 50,000 full-time residents, with 100,000 the guestimate in summer. These people require and deserve our protection. But taxpayers must be prepared to pay for effective, responsive teams — otherwise, we will all face higher insurance costs, not to mention higher risks of accidents and catastrophes. Just watching our EMS crews at the Bala Falls drownings, I was so impressed. Snowmobile, or ATV deaths, car accidents prevail, with tourists demand top-notch services. This is the cost of municipal services.

• Death by Drowning
• Accidents in Muskoka
• Drownings continue in Ontario

Municipally-funded department
Why is it that our fire chiefs must go to Queen's Park to beg/lobby for money?  Only firefighters, of all the First Responders, are funded strictly by the municipality. Muskoka Lakes, with an average income $15,000 below other municipalities, and a plethora of cottage mansions, balances those living in a housing crisis, with those who cottage in luxury, but all must have the right to feel safe and protected by state-of-the-art infrastructure in this land we call Canada. Those who live in the city do not understand our dire need for protection. Their summer lives require 24/7 protection. Many insist their right to have a 4' bonfire despite a fire ban, with dry leaves throughout the forest.

Snowmobilers, ATV operators, and others, have bonfires on beaches or in the forest. We risk all if we are not prepared.

Fundraising

Firefighters hold pancake breakfasts to supplement their budgets. They set up info tents to explain their work to the public and demonstrate their equipment. What is wrong with this picture?
They train on their own time, and demonstrate a high-calibre of expertise.

Firefighters stage protest
SOUTH MUSKOKA - Firefighters from across Muskoka Lakes Township’s 10 fire stations took part in a peaceful protest that began at 8 a.m. Monday morning. 


After Hours and Emergency Contact Information

Service		After Hours or Emergency Phone #s
Engineering & Public Works		1-800-281-3483
Water & Sewer
	Bracebridge	705-645-5699
	Gravenhurst	705-687-8894
	Huntsville, Port Sydney & Baysville	705-789-8640
	Port Carling & MacTier	1-800-668-0442
	Port Severn & Bala	1-800-669-3884
District Road Maintenance & Construction		1-800-281-3483
Garbage, Recycling, Landfill & Transfer Sites		1-800-281-3483
Lagoons		1-800-281-3483
Port Carling Locks & Port Sandfield Swing Bridge		1-800-281-3483
Social Housing		705-645-9261