North Queens Fire Association gets new jaws of life

The North Queens Fire Association will replace their 15-year-old vehicle extraction tools due to the fact they are not compatible with new vehicles.

“We’ll be getting a new set of jaws of life,” said chief Frank Armstrong, “within the next week or so.”

The new equipment cost about $25,000.

The North Queens Fire Association received about $15,000 from the provincial emergency services provider fund.

The North Queens Fire Association also fundraised and brought in money through the municipal grant system.

“With the newer type of vehicles and the different ways of manufacturing the vehicles, we had to upgrade our tools significantly,” said Armstrong. “Hopefully we will be able to provide a better service to the community.”

Mid June the North Queens Fire Association will have a training session with the Halifax Regional Municipal Fire Department.

It will take place in Caledonia, where they will “be cutting up a bunch of cars and getting acquainted with the tools and proper training,” he said.

A public demonstration will take place at the end of June.

Armstrong also noted, “our endeavors into building a new fire hall are ongoing. It’s just a process of seeking out where we can get the funding.”

Even though it’s been a ten-year process they are still at it, he said with an assuring voice.

“The current hall was built in the early 1970’s, it was designed for basically three trucks. We have a fleet of five now and one we have to park outside,” he noted.

It was estimated half a year ago a new hall would cost $2.5-million.

“We have to look at it positively,” he commented. “I’ve got a great team of officers to help me out with stuff.”