A new firefighter rehab program "worked as intended" this past week, according to the manager of Lambton's Emergency Medical Services [EMS].
Lambton EMS Manager Steve Pancino.
Steve Pancino's team of paramedics are now providing a dedicated, on-scene rehab area at working fires.
Rehab areas have become mandatory for local fire services under updated provincial requirements.
"Historically when there's a working structure fire, paramedics are called to the scene, but they're often some distance from the scene and in the county they'd wait at the closest major intersection," said Pancino. "If something were to happen to either a bystander or firefighter, then we would receive a call to then enter that scene after an event happened."
This new program, currently in the pilot stage, is much more proactive, he said.
"We've worked with a number of the local fire departments in developing the program, to say, 'ok, why wouldn't we look at this proactively,' assessing the firefighters at regular intervals to make that they're safe while preforming their duties."
Staff were trained on the program in September.
Warwick firefighters respond to a commercial structure fire in the 6700 block of London Line, December 18, 2018. (Photo courtesy of Warwick Fire and Rescue via Facebook)
"Our paramedics are assessing their vital signs, their blood pressure, their respiratory rate, level of awareness... that sort of thing," said Pancino.
He said they've set up a firefighter rehab area twice so far -- including at a call in Warwick Township earlier this week.
Volunteer firefighters from Watford and Wyoming helped Warwick Fire and Rescue douse a blaze that extensively damaged Warwick Auto Service around 1 p.m. Tuesday.
There were no injuries.
Warwick Fire Chief Brad Goodhill said damage is estimated between $400,000 and $500,000.
He said the cause is undetermined, but did start in the area where two vehicles had recently been worked on.
