This past weekend, Wabasca Fire Department held a vehicle extrication training session. We started the day off in the classroom, reviewing scene safety and some basic vehicle extrication techniques. We then moved onto practical training. We started with different techniques of stabilizing a vehicle. We made cribs, a chain basket, and used Rescue 42 struts.

This crib basket is not totally secure, as the slope in the trunk could cause the chain to slip.

Demonstration of the Rescue 42 struts

We then moved onto use of hand tools. We practiced breaking glass, puncturing tires, and cutting windshields out. We used a sawzall to cut apart a vehicle, showing we don’t necessarily have to use the larger, heavier tools to be able to perform an extrication.

The sawzall blade can get quite hot, spraying it with water helps cool it and any sparks down

We then got to my favourite part, using the cutters and spreaders. We worked on popping door hinges, cutting the various posts, removing roofs, pushing the dash, and removing trunk doors. Spreaders, or “The Jaws of Life”, have enough strength to pop door hinges and nader pins

Cutters are another useful tool

These are the same spreaders with different tips. We used these tips to perform a dash push, which is where the dash gets moved away from the patient to make more room to pull them out.

All in all it was a fun and educational day! Lots of folks popped in to see what we were doing.

It’s that time of year again, folks! Fire season started on March 1st. How does that affect you?

For the folks living in Alberta’s Forest Protection Area (of which all of the M.D. of Opportunity No. 17 is part of!) this means they have to apply for a fire permit for all outdoor fires (excluding campfires) until October 31st. They are free and are an important tool in keeping our communities safe. They let the wildfire detection staff know where authorized fires are planned, which means you won’t have firefighters knocking on your door, or a plane looking to drop fire retardant over your fire. It also gives the wildfire staff the ability to notify you if the risk for a wildfire is too great to have your own outdoor fire. Did you know, just about half of the wildfires started in Alberta each year are caused by humans?

Don’t forget to go check your winter burns. A fire left smouldering can burn under the snow all winter and reemerge when it melts, starting a wildfire. Alberta Agriculture and Forestry recommends you use a metal rod to probe the ash pile, and if it’s hot to the touch, the fire is still burning. To extinguish it soak the pile with water and stir it up. Keep doing this until the ash is cool to the touch.

You can contact the local Alberta Agriculture and Forestry Office at 780-891-3860 to obtain your free fire permit today.

“Remember, if you’re found responsible for starting a wildfire, or if you burn without a permit, you may be charged under the Forest and Prairie Protection Act!