Harrington invests in fire prevention

The township of Harrington has continued its plan to invest in fire safety with the purchase of a new $375,000 pumper-tanker fire truck.

"The new truck will offer the firefighters greater flexibility when combating fires," said Harrington Councillor Claude LaRoque.

"Over the past few years, Harrington has invested heavily in our fire department. We purchased about 30 hard suits so that every firefighter now has a proper suit. The new communications tower near Forest Lake cost about $40,000 to install, but now enables us to send wireless internet reception across the valley, so that public works and our firefighters can stay in contact."

An additional $20,000 was used to purchase a 1989 pumper truck.

Over the past four years, the Harrington Fire Department has expanded from a county crew of volunteers to a professionally-driven group that has been outfitted in new fire suits, received certified training and, most recently, new trucks.

Ed Kasprzyk, the mayor and fire chief for the Municipality of Wentworth, resigned his post as Harrington Fire Chief earlier this month. Kasprzyk was replaced by Harrington's Director of Public Works Neil Swail, who is a qualified first responder as well as the fire chief for Arundel.

"Neil is a real quality addition who has allowed us to plan for more road works this summer than have been done in the past 20 years," said LaRoque. "He is qualified for both of these positions and he will help us prepare long-term plans for Harrington."