Merging fire services for quicker response time.

• Author: Stewart, Nick

Working better and smarter is the primary reason for constructing a new $3.2 million fire management headquarters in Cochrane according to a Ministry of Natural Resources official.

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"It represents a series of efficiencies for the fire management program here," says Brian Schulz, East Region Fire Services Coordinator.

An existing fire services garage will be renovated to allow for the construction of a 7,000-square-foot facility that will service the Cochrane region's fire management needs.

Identified as a priority several years ago, but delayed by administrative processes, the new headquarters will consolidate two of the three local fire service facilities. This will streamline many of the processes involved in the service's regular operation, says Schulz.

By relocating the work crews next to the planning offices, the transfer and flow of information will be tighter and more effective, he says. This will enable the government to communicate better with companies about topics such as pre-suppression planning, prescribed burning and fire prevention. Other general response areas, such as suppression activity forest management and various types of related forestry work, will also be planned and executed with greater in-house collaboration.

By moving planning and crew divisions into the same building, emergency response will be quicker and more accurate, he says.

"Basically, we'll be able to function better with anyone or anything that can be considered a causal agent [of forest fires]," he says.

The building will house 10 three-person seasonal fire ranger crews, with space for extra crews that can be brought on board if extensive emergencies make it necessary to add more staff. Seven to 10 permanent staff will also be housed there.

The overall approach towards increased efficiencies also extends to the facility's...