REGIONAL NIAGARA FIRE BUFF ASSOCIATION
FIRE SERVICE SUPPORT UNIT
WHO WE ARE
In June of 1989 the Regional Niagara Fire Buff Association established a Fire Service Support Unit that serves all 12 Fire Departments within the Niagara Region, The Niagara Regional Police, The Ontario Provincial Police, and virtually all of the Regional Niagara Emergency Services organizations.
At present the Support Unit operates two support vehicles: a retired transit bus that has been converted to a self contained canteen unit and a rapid response unit. The Support Units respond to emergencies 24 hours/day, 7 days /week, 365 days/year and are dispatched by the St. Catharines Fire Department Regional Dispatch Centre.
In addition to its involvement at the scene of an emergency the Support Units assist with fire prevention activities, training exercises and various fund raising activities.
Membership in the RNFBA is necessary in order to serve on the Fire Service Support Unit.
OUR HISTORY
In the mid 1980's it became increasingly apparent that the various physical exertions and exposures experienced by firefighters required the provision of on scene rehabilitation services capable of providing replacement fluids to deal with dehydration and nourishment to replenish energy expended. In June 1989, to address this need, the RNFBA in consultation with several senior fire department officers established the Fire Services Support Unit. The unit responded to its first call on July 16, 1989 in support of the Niagara on the Lake Fire Department.
For the first eight calls it was necessary for members to serve food and beverages from the back of their personal vehicles.
In 1990 we acquired a 1968 GMC step van, a retired Toronto Star delivery van that the Mississauga Fire Department had obtained and converted for use as their canteen unit. The original Support Unit responded to its first call on January 18, 1991 and answered 68 calls before being retired in 1994.
In 1994 we obtained a 1975 GMC step van that had been operated by the Pelham Fire Service as one of their Rescue Units. The unit operated for 10 years and answered 380 calls for assistance.
In October 2004 our current Support Unit #1 was placed into service, a 1998 Blue Bird Bus that was converted for our use by PK Van Bodies of Oshawa. It has a Cummins Diesel engine, Allison Automatic transmission, 25 kilowatt Onan power take-off driven generator and 3000 Watt Wilburt Night Scan Light Tower. Support Unit # 1 has a fully equipped kitchen with stainless steel counters, hot & cold running water and a 50 gallon potable water tank.
Since March 2010, SU#1 has been equipped with an Automatic External Defibrillator. The majority of SU members are certified in First Aid, CPR and AED, all to the Health Care Provider (HCP) level.
In October 2009 we placed Support Unit #2, a 1999 Chevrolet Astro Van obtained from Grimsby Fire, into operation. SU # 2 operates as a rapid response vehicle, augments the assistance provided by SU #1 and adds capabilities to respond to two calls simultaneously. In December 2010 a replacement SU # 2, a 2002 Ford F350 ambulance was obtained from Niagara EMS, modified and placed into service replacing the Astro.
FURTHER INFORMATION
Contact Regional Niagara Fire Buff Association - www.rnfba.com or Support Unit Chairman John Hermans at
905 684-8520