Firefighting should be a permanent position

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Richard Kent says he's trying to work himself out of a job.

The fire prevention officer for the Prince Albert Grand Council has only been in his job for two years, but envisions the day it won't be needed.

Kent hopes each of the 23 communities he looks after will someday have their own paid fire chief.

Right now the fire departments are run on a completely volunteer basis, but that's not good enough for real safety, he said.

"We never ask for volunteer police departments and volunteer medical services," Kent said.

The idea that a fire department can be all volunteer stems from years ago when all you needed to do to fight a fire was pass a bucket down the line, he said. Today there is complicated equipment to operate and maintain, and other firefighters to be trained.

Not to mention the fire inspections and classroom visits professional fire departments provide.

Right now there are only two provincial fire inspectors to handle all the bands in the province, Kent said. Even with the work he does too, that's nowhere near enough people to get to all the buildings, especially with all the travel involved.

The 11-year veteran of the Prince Albert fire department is adamant that a paid fire chief must be hired in each community to properly do the job.

That person would be responsible for keeping the fire hall in order, keeping up with the heavy maintenance schedule fire equipment demands and keeping volunteer training levels up.

"I don't want to see the fire chief's job involved with any other jobs," he said. "That's a full time job."

Kent says he has been making his views know to Indian and Northern Affairs in the hope that something can be done to make paid fire chiefs a reality.

If he gets his way, Kent will pack up his office at PAGC. But for the good of the 23 northern communities he cares about, that's fine with him.

"If that happens I'd be thrilled," he said.