Final numbers are in for fire fighting activities in North Battleford in 2012.
North Battleford Fire and Emergency Services gave its final report to the City's Municipal Services committee Monday. It was reported total responses in the city amounted to 443, compared to 453 in 2011. In the surrounding RM, responses were up slightly to 40 compared to 34 the previous year, mostly related to more vehicle collisions.
The grand total for the whole area for 2012 was 483, compared to 487 the previous year, according to the numbers compiled by Brian Wilson, deputy fire chief, who delivered the final numbers.
Among the notable numbers, ground cover fires in the City were down from 31 to 14 for the year, and garage/dumpster fires down from 43 to 31. Vehicle fires were down from 15 to 11. The number of investigative/strange odor cases was up from 12 to 28.
Residential structure fires were down from 18 to eight in 2012, and there were three commercial structural fires in 2012 as well.
One residential and two commercial structural fires punctuated the month of March for the fire department - a month that saw the "Jesus is Alive" building destroyed in a massive blaze that required the full attention of the department.
In the surrounding RMs only one residential structure fire was reported for the year. There were seven ground cover fires (down from 12), three vehicle fires (down from seven) and four investigative cases.
In the final fire prevention activities report for the year compiled by Deputy Fire Chief Kevin Steinborn , the fire prevention activities and contracted activities for 2012 together totaled 916, compared to 890 the previous year. Wilson told councillors that increase was due to "inspections as well as public education interactions in the community."
