The La Ronge Regional Fire Department plans to work with the Saskatchewan Health Authority to place more needle bins throughout the community. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

By Derek Cornet

firefighters

Busiest year on record for fire department, increase in needle pick ups

Jan 4, 2024 | 3:25 PM

The La Ronge Regional Fire Department experienced its busiest year on record in 2023.

Firefighters responded to 268 calls for service, a slight increase from 256 calls in 2022.

That’s continuing an upward trend that began more than a decade ago. In 2011, Fire Chief Keaton Cloud explained the department had roughly 80 calls for service.

“We’re seeing an increase across the board for all types of calls that we are responding to, whether that be aircraft emergencies or bush and grass fires, structure fires, there’s nothing that really sticks out that’s overly shocking,” he said. “We tend to get more of the calls we are expected to respond to.”

Although La Ronge experienced its warmest year on record in 2023, Cloud doesn’t think the extra heat contributed to an overall rise in calls. He noted there were fewer bush and grass fires within the municipality than in 2022.

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There were 48 bush and grass fire calls in 2023 compared to 55 in 2022. In 2021, the department responded to 27.

There was a 26 per cent increase in training hours, which totalled 1,903 hours in 2023.

“So, things like rope rescue or HAZMAT courses,” he said. “That, combined with high attendance this last year, has really contributed to an overall increase in training hours.”

Data also shows a 73 per cent increase in the number of needles removed from the streets. While about 200 of them came from one residence, Cloud added that number is still a significant amount.

“We have definitely seen a big increase in sharps pick-ups this year, which is a bit concerning to us, and we plan to work with the Saskatchewan Health Authority to get more needle bins throughout the town.”

Following an open house in October 2023, the fire department remains fully staffed at 30 members. In 2023, there were 13 new hires.

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derek.cornet@pattisonmedia.com