Kings fire lines - as of Oct. 2

Kentville firefighters had to rescue a young man from the Cornwallis River for the second time in three weeks Sept. 23.

Chief Shawn Ripley said the young man jumped off the railing of the Cornwallis River Bridge into the river below Sunday afternoon. The young man refused to come out, so firefighters had to don cold water rescue suits and go in after him. Ripley said the individual is apparently dealing with mental health issues.

Elsewhere, Kentville firefighters responded to a stove fire Sept. 21 and to a false smoke alarm sounding at a residence on Belcher Street the same day.

Kentville had a call about smoke coming from the roof of Valley Ford Sept. 21. However, it turned out to be a false alarm. Someone doing donuts in a car in a back parking lot apparently caused the smoke.

Kentville responded to a smoke condition at the Evergreen Home for Special Care Sept. 22. Ripley said a self-cleaning oven caused the smoke condition.

Kentville and New Minas firefighters responded to a single vehicle collision on Highway 101 between exits 12 and 13 Sept. 23. There were no injuries. Ripley said the RCMP turned fire crews back on arrival, as further assistance wasn’t required.

Kentville responded to KCA Sept. 23 as strong winds blew sections of aluminum roofing off the school. Ripley said sections as long as 12 to 15 feet were blowing off, causing a safety concern. Firefighters were able to secure the roofing.

Kentville firefighters investigated a report of a fire near the intersection of Middle Dyke Road and Church Street Sept. 24. However, no fire was found.

Kentville responded to a call about a person burning garbage on Lamont Road, smoking out the Valley Regional Hospital Sept. 24. Ripley said this is an ongoing problem in the area, as the smoke gets in the hospital’s air exchange system. It has even forced the hospital to temporarily shut down certain areas at times.

Kentville firefighters battled a fire in a three-storey apartment building on Chester Avenue Sept. 25. The fire caused extensive damage to two apartments and there was smoke damage throughout the structure. A dozen people were temporarily homeless, but the Red Cross and the town’s EMO provided lodging in the fire hall and a local hotel. Canning and New Minas provided mutual aid. Ripley said the careless use of smoking materials is being blamed for the fire.

Kentville responded to a chimney fire on the Lakewood Road Sept. 25. Ripley said it took firefighters a while to unplug the chimney.

Kentville responded in mutual aid to Windsor Sept. 26, as that department was busy battling a structure fire at the Windsor Curling Club. The club was destroyed in the blaze and two garages were damaged extensively. Three people have been charged in relation to the fire.

Kentville was later called to provide mutual aid to Windsor once again, in the form of human resources and equipment. Canning firefighters provided mutual aid to Kentville in the form of stand-in assistance during the emergency. New Minas and Wolfville provided mutual aid to Windsor as well. Greenwich provided mutual aid to Wolfville in the form of stand-in assistance during the blaze.

Kentville responded to a false alarm sounding at Camp Aldershot Sept. 27 and provided mutual aid to Waterville later the same day, as that department battled a brush fire.

Ripley said Kentville has responded to a total of 285 calls so far in 2007 as of Sept. 28. Ripley reminds the public Fire Prevention Week is coming up, and people should change the batteries in their smoke alarms and plan and practice emergency escape routes.

Canning firefighters responded to a call for medical assistance in Kingsport Sept. 23.

New Minas responded to an alarm sounding at an apartment on Alders Avenue and to a residential fire alarm sounding on Prospect Road Sept. 25.

New Minas firefighters responded to an alarm sounding on Highbury School Road Sept. 26.

New Minas responded to a call about downed power lines on Commercial Street Sept. 27.

New Minas and Wolfville firefighters were involved in a water rescue off Oak Island Road in Avonport Sept. 26. New Minas Fire Chief James Redmond said two people were caught in the tide.