Windsor Fire Department Plans Advanced Water/Ice Rescue Program

Hello time traveller!!
This article is 4071 days old.
The information listed below is likely outdated and has been preserved for archival purposes.

Windsor’s Fire Chief is looking to enhance the inland water and ice rescue services provided by Windsor Fire and Rescue.

Currently the service offers very minimal rescue services and their current policy prevents any firefighter from being closer then three feet from any shoreline. It also does not permit any firefighters from entering onto the ice or into the Detroit River or any pond, whether natural or man made.

Within the City of Windsor, there are 43.7 kilometers of shoreline bordering the Detroit River, 12.4km of shoreline bordering Little River and 8.8km along the edge of the Grand Marais Drain. There are also 50+ acres made up of six major bodies of water including Southwood Lakes and Blue Heron.

Current equipment available to firefighters for any water rescue is two personal flotation devices, a throw bag with a 75 foot rope, and a throw buoy.

Under Chief Bruce Montone’s plan, a one time cost of $30,000 would be spent to train staff and purchase all the necessary equipment. Costs include $4,000 to purchases a Fontuna, $16,000 for the purchase of a personal watercraft with trailer, $3,000 for water suits, $1,000 for rope, life jackets and mics tools and $5,600 for training.

An annual cost of $20,000 will be required from the budget to pay the annual water and ice technicians a specialty pay if $1,000. The pay recognizes the signification additional effort the technicians make to maintain skills and to assist in the operations of the program.

This goes to Windsor City Council on March 6th for approval.