Madawaska Valley Fire Department receives a small donation that will surely go a long way.
Fire Chief, Corwin Quade, says they applied for the grant in February and got the news, during Easter long weekend, that they would receive $500 from Fire Smart Canada.
He says the funds will be used to purchase and install educational and fire rating signs. The Township now has 12 fire rating signs in Madawaska Valley he says, but would like to get 5 or 6 more. He states that they will also be putting up educational signs letting the public know that they have to clear deciduous trees and evergreen trees from the ground, at least 6 feet away from their home. He says they’ve received a lot of calls regarding daytime burning within a two-month span and says that now people won’t be able to say they didn’t see the signs.
Their mission is to educate on fire safety. He says firefighters from Madawaska Valley Fire Department will also be out on Bay Day for Wildfire Prevention Awareness Day. He says they will be giving the public tips on how to protect their properties from wildfires.
Chief Quade suggests that the public uses the Township’s website as a tool to verify local fire ratings. “The fire rating is always updated, it’s available by phone also” and adds that “I’ll change it seven days a week if I have to”. To view the fire rating, click here (on the right hand side).