Adam Prudhomme
Editor
Greater Napanee Emergency Services had a busy weekend, responding to emergencies on both water and land.
On Friday they were called to the Napanee River after two boys and a dog needed extrication. The boys had followed the dog into the water after it had chased some baby geese into the river. A pair of GNES firefighters entered the water to retrieve the boys and the dog. One boy was taken to hospital for observation, the other released at the scene and the dog suffered no injuries.
GNES deputy fire chief Bill Hammond notes GNES has already been involved in twice the amount of water rescues this year compared to this time last year.
Also on Friday there was a multi-vehicle collision that saw a car land up against a house, trapping the driver. GNES was able to extract the driver with no injuries. Later that same day GNES responded to an accident between a car and a truck with two passengers from the car taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
Friday’s action concluded a busy week of calls for the local fire department.
“GNES has responded to 25 calls for service since Monday morning at 6 a.m. with a wide range of responses such as working fires, medical VSA’s, MVCs including extrication, an ATV incident, brush fires, medical seizures, public assist calls, alarms ringing and a water rescue,” said Hammond. “Fifteen of those calls were handled from Friday morning through Monday at 7 a.m. Saturday the department was involved in provincial evaluation for certification of recruit fire fighters and actively inspecting homes through our smoke alarm program in Station 1 and 3 response areas being assisted by Loyalist Pre Service students gaining on the job experience.”
Hammond credited the seamless work with OPP and EMS counterparts in several of the calls to help ensure the safety of the community.