Innisfail is now part of the emergency response to put out the still burning wildfire in the Fort McMurray region.
OP Fire & Safety, which is based in Innisfail and has several other locations across the province, received a call last week for fire suppression assistance.
Four company firefighters -- Melvin Martin, Tom Blauveldt, Braedon Turnbull and Drew Iwanoczko -- headed out early in the morning on May 11.
In the meantime, volunteer firefighters with the Innisfail Fire Department are just as anxious to get their call. Dean Clark, the department's fire chief, said his department is still registered with the provincial operations centre, and every one of his crew is willing to go.
“The volunteer department here in town really wants to help out as well,” said Glen Carritt, owner and operations manager of OP Fire & Safety, adding he has the highest regard and respect for the town's fire department.
He noted his firm has been on a provincial list to help out with forest and wildland fires for the past year.
“We are in oilfield, as well as wildland fire suppression, so we are kind of on a different list,” said Carritt, who has professionally been involved in fire and EMS duties for more than 15 years, including rural, urban and industrial services. His company has been providing emergency response service since 2004.
“We just got the call, get the truck up there and they give us details as they come in,” said Carritt of what his men are tasked to do.
He added they will be battling the ongoing fires up north for at least a month, and that includes going into the city of Fort McMurray to put down hot spots.
“They have gone into the town occasionally and will do whatever the day requires,” said Carritt, whose company employs up to 20 emergency responders. “As you can understand there are so many logistics going on up there and different plans they are trying to work out, and they are working through them the best they can. “They are pretty eager to help. Everybody wants to do their part,” he added. “In fact most of them have been after me since it (wildfire) started to see if we can get a truck up there.”
For more information on OP Fire & Safety go to the company's website at www.opfireandsafety.com
Glen Carritt, owner and operations manager of OP Fire & Safety
"They have gone into the town occasionally and will do whatever the day requires.They are pretty eager to help. Everybody wants to do their part."
