Today has been proclaimed “First Responders Day” in Arnprior- and many other communities also observe the commemoration each First of May.
Arnprior Fire Chief Rick Desarmia says community growth is placing more responsibilities on the shoulders of EMS personnel.
It’s a situation that’s not unique to the Town Where the Rivers Meet.
The Arnprior Fire Service continues its valued role in the community by operating on a “hybrid” model of a bare-bones full time staff and a healthy cadre of volunteer firefighters.
The childhood dream of wanting to be a firefighter upon reaching adulthood remains a noble calling.
Keeping one’s credentials up-to-speed is essential as Queen’s Park is setting the bar higher with its training and certification requirements.
With life’s pressures in 2025, the Chief observes that volunteers don’t remain as long with the Fire Service as they once did.
Initial training- once delivered at a Provincial “Fire College” now largely falls on local shoulders.
The other partner in the equation is Town of Arnprior Council- one of whose number is a former Town Fire Chief.
Speaking of equipment, when a volunteer firefighter leaves the service, often the custom-made gear can’t be repurposed.
Response times, a visible indicator of effectiveness, factor substantively against training time.
When things come together, Fire Service activities hum the tune.
Maintaining the balance could require additional full-time equivalent staff so that all Fire Service activities are addressed in proper balance; tis one of the factors where Town Council has opportunity to address its partnership role.
By Rick Stow