'It creates a safety issue': Souris looks to replace its old fire station

With six trucks crammed into a two-bay garage and only enough parking spaces for half of the department's members, the Town of Souris has decided it needs a new firehall.

"We've outgrown our spot that we're in now," said Donnie Aitken, chief of the Souris Fire Department.

"We don't have room to do training in."

The current firehall is not meeting many of the standards set out by the National Fire Prevention Act, said Aitken, which alsocreates risks for firefighters.Regulations require there to be two metres between trucks, and right now there's only aroundone.

It's all packed in so tight, there is little space for people to get around, he said.It creates tripping hazards for firefighters, and makes it hard for the drivers to see what's around the trucks.

"It creates a safety issue," he said.

Not all of the risks arevisible.

Because there's noroom for the firefighters' bunker gear, it all has to be stored behind the trucks inside the hall.Whenthe trucks start up, the exhaust fumes seep into the uniforms, leaving carcinogens and toxic chemicals.

But the close quarters don't end inside.

"We have 30 firefighters. We have 16 parking spots. So it's first-come, first-serve," he said.

Once spaces run out, firefighters responding to a call have to park elsewhere and run to the station.

Souris fire chief explains why the town needs a new firehall

1 month ago

Duration 2:54

The Souris Fire Department is working in cramped conditions, and the town's council recently approved a plan to build a new firehall. CBC's Tony Davis speaks with Chief Donnie Aitken about the problems firefighters are facing, and what he hopes the new facility will look like.

The new hall is set to go just off MacPhee Avenue and Hope Street, on land the town purchaseda few years ago.

Aitken said early plans for the new facility include a dedicated wash bay, rooms for firefighters' gear, a room for their breathing apparatuses, and a fitness centre.It would also have enough space for parking and training.

"We're still in the conceptual stages," he said. "I'd love to be able to say we'll be moving in next year but that's not going to be reality.It could be a five-year plan before it all comes together."

The current firehall works for now, but the safety of firefighters is still a concern, Aitken said.

The town would not be able to do it on its own. Jo-Anne Dunphy, mayor of Souris

The price is up in the air because the plans are stillloose, but the fire chiefestimates the new hall will cost more than $9 million.

A new buildingwould also provide enoughspace to allowthe department to buy a ladder truck that would help forcalls attaller buildings.

Souris Mayor Jo-AnneDunphy, said the town has applied for federal and provincial funding, but has not heard back.

"The town would not be able to do it on its own," Dunphy said.

She said a tax increase to help pay for the new hallis not out of the question, but it's hard to tell whether that will have to happen at this stagewithout knowing how much it will cost and whether funding will come through.