Newfoundland project looks at rural firefighting

ST. JOHN'S — The challenges facing rural firefighting and how to best navigate those hindrances will be the subject of an upcoming research project being done through a collaboration between the Marine

Institute and the fire commissioner's office for Newfoundland and Labrador.

The two-year project will examine firefighting strategies and equipment used in volunteer firefighting departments, with an eye on declining populations. Recommendations forwarded to departments on how they could best deal with issues through new firefighting methods and limiting risk to the community.

It is being funded by a $54,500 grant from the International Grenfell Association, along with contributions from both the Insurance Bureau of Canada and Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro. Both of those contributions are $10,000 each.

“Our role is to gather the information,” said Elizabeth Sanli, a researcher with the Marine Institute’s ocean safety research unit and the project lead. “We’re looking for helpful strategies and helpful tools.”

The project will be broken down into three phases, the first of which will have researchers delving into the subject through journal articles, previous research done by firefighting organizations and other documents relevant to what they’re looking to address.

They will focus on literature that focuses on challenges faced by other coastal and northern regions with dwindling firefighter numbers.

“We want to make (fire departments) effective and as efficient as possible,” said Sanli.