NEW GLASGOW – By their very definition firefighters are always prepared and it's no different when it comes to getting ready for hurricane Earl.
"We've gone over all our portable equipment, generators, pumps that sort of thing," New Glasgow fire chief Doug Dort said. "We've got our boat tuned up and ready to go in case there's flooding."
Dort said if things look like there going to be bad he'll have a crew on standby at the fire hall ready to go. The hall can also be used as an emergency shelter, he added.
"We can take people there to our hall. It's a safe place to be. We have supplies and an emergency generator. We'll do whatever is required."
Dort said they are prepared and he hopes the public is too.
"It's a wait-and-see game. I urge the public to remember hurricane Juan and take that experience and be prepared for what may come."
Westville Fire Department chief Kenny Dunn said they are ready for Earl.
"We're pretty much going to take it in stride. We're pretty much prepared anyway for emergency situations. If the storm gets significant enough we'll put a crew at the fire station."
Dunn said the Westville fire department follows that practice during winter storms.
"It cuts down on response times if we are at the station. We would do six-hour shifts and be ready to go."
Dunn said their gear is checked every Sunday by one of the department's six crews. They'll keep an extra close eye on communications in light of hurricane Earl.
"We don't want to lose radio communication."
Dunn said their fire hall and the Westville town gymnasium could both be available for the public as comfort centres if the need arises.
"We're hoping for the best. If it does happen we'll be prepared and go from there."
Alma fire chief Jack Ross said they're ready as well.
"We're sure that all our generators are ready to go. Our fire hall is an emergency shelter area, we have a big gen-set there."
Ross said his 30-member department would be ready to go at a moment's notice on page-out as usual.
Alma firefighters are at the hall every Tuesday night for training and take the time to go over all their gear at least once a month.
Ross also passed along a plea for the public to be prepared themselves.
"Have enough stuff to last them for 72 hours. Have some cash with you in case the bank machines aren't working. Have enough water to get you through 72 hours."
The Trenton Fire Department has emergency plans in place and they'll go over them one more time tonight.
"We have an officers meeting on Thursday night and we'll look at it then," Chief Wayne Allain said.
Allain said the fire department itself is prepared for the storm too.
"We have emergency power at the fire hall. Our communications system will work. Without power the pagers go dead in a day or two."
He said the department could have firefighters on standby at the hall as the situation dictates.
"In severe weather that will happen. That will be the big thing to start with."
The hall acted as a comfort station during hurricane Juan and Allain said it's available for that role again for anyone that needed it.
Allain said the department's gear is checked and maintained on a regular basis to keep it up to standards.
Along with his fellow fire chiefs, Allain encouraged the public to be ready.
"They should prepare, have lots of drinking water and food. You're definitely going to want something for light. If they do use candles, don't leave them alone."
