Enhanced cleaning is also done at both facilities to minimize the risk of COVID-19 infections. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

By Derek Cornet

protect and serve

All firefighters, police officers in tri-communities vaccinated for COVID-19

Jan 18, 2022 | 5:00 PM

Every police officer and firefighter responsible for protecting the tri-communities are fully vaccinated for COVID-19.

La Ronge RCMP Staff Sgt. Dean Bridle and La Ronge Regional Fire Department chief Keaton Cloud both confirmed to larongeNOW staff at their facilities had received both shots of a COVID vaccine. Bridle explained the federal government has already mandated that all federal employees need to be vaccinated and that applies to the officers at the detachment.

To prevent a slow down in services as thousands of Saskatchewan residents test positive for COVID, Bridle noted precautions are being used to minimize the risk.

“We have a thoroughly stringent cleaning practice in place,” he said. The janitorial staff does cleaning two times per day, and then within the office we are masking, trying to maintain as much space as we can with one another in tight quarters, and keeping our work stations as clean as possible.”

When riding in a vehicle, officers are also encouraged to wear a mask at all times.

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If several officers at a detachment did become infected, Bridle mentioned there is a contingency plan. He said detachments would amalgamate and share resources should a shortage occur. For example, La Ronge officers would be sent to Southend if needed and vice versa.

“Obviously with La Ronge being a bigger detachment, it would be a little bit more difficult for them to offset their shortages here,” Bridle said. “We would amalgamate just for resources between La Ronge, Stanley Mission and Southend should there be all of a sudden a significant shortage in resources. We would share manpower throughout those three detachments.”

Cloud also confirmed firefighters are working hard to prevent an outbreak at the department, adding there are sanitization stations throughout the building and the fire hall is deep cleaned regularly. He said all firefighters are currently vaccinated and it will be a mandatory requirement for new members until further notice.

“We’ve been fortunate that we’ve only had a couple cases, which only affected a small portion of firefighters at once,” Cloud said. “We do have a contingency plan in place should a large amount of firefighters become ill, however, this hasn’t been activated during the pandemic.”

The contingency plan would involve bringing certified firefighters in from other jurisdictions to help cover.

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derek.cornet@pattisonmedia.com

Twitter: @saskjourno