While medical calls within Warman accounted for the bulk of Warman Fire Rescue (WFR) responses last month, the number of fire-related incidents was higher than usual.
“April was an average month for medical calls, but quite a bit busier on the Fire Rescue side,” stated Warman Fire Chief Russ Austin in a written report to the Warman City Council committee of the whole meeting on Monday, May 15. “The motor vehicle collision (MVC) category was higher in part to a few car fires, which was unusual this month.”
There were 16 fire and MVC-related incidents that WFR members were called to during April, including one vehicle fire; two fires within Warman city limits and one outside the city’s boundaries; two fires in the RM that WFR attended in response to a call for mutual aid from other fire departments; two motor vehicle collisions (MVC) in the city and four outside the city.
WFR members responded to 32 medical calls within Warman city limits in April, according to statistics contained in Austin’s report to council. That’s similar to the first three months of the year; there were 35 medical calls in January, 31 in February, and 35 in March. Overall, there were 133 medical calls that WFR members were dispatched to in the first four months of 2023.
But, there were at least a few instances where WFR first responders were not called because Medavie Health Services West paramedics and an ambulance were available.
“We did see the Medavie unit from Martensville in Warman a few times without us being called to first respond, which was encouraging,” said Austin. “Time will tell if that trend lasts, but I am hopeful.”
The Medavie Health Services West ambulance base in Martensville was officially opened earlier this year.
Two members of Warman Fire Rescue took part in the Saskatoon Fire/IAFF Firefighter Survival train-the trainer course in early May in Saskatoon. Martensville Fire Department also sent two members to the course.
“This was the first time SFD/IAFF opened up a training course to non-full-time union employees of SFD, let alone a course where our attendees can come back and teach and certify our members to the exact same standard,” said Austin. “The regional training model took a big step with this course and our attendees said it was, hands-down, the best training course they ever attended.”
Also on the training front, WFR is hosting the Saskatchewan Critical Incident Stress Management Team this week, said Austin. The course brings first responders from across the province to Warman to learn “assisting individuals in crisis” peer support training.
The first phase of the regional firefighters training facility project, located southeast of Martensville, is making progress, according to Austin. He said the three fire departments involved (Warman, Martensville and Saskatoon), meet every month to ensure the project stays on track.