Unusual callouts for firefighters in mid-January storm
The weekend of Jan. 15-16 wasn't only exceptional for the stormy weather, the Yarmouth Fire Department responded to several calls that were also a little out of the ordinary.
Fire chief Mike Deveau says a marine distress call turned out to be a 20-foot outboard motor boat at Lobster Rock Wharf, used for harvesting rockweed.
“It was tied to the slip that's used to launch boats and it was swamped,” he says. "There was nothing that could really be done at the time as there was too much wind."
The Coast Guard was called and there were environmental concerns because of the gas tank. No one was aboard the boat.
Firefighters also responded to a “structural collapse” on the Ellis Road. When firefighters arrived they found a false exterior wall on the building that wasn't necessary for structural purpose, but had been added on for aesthetic appeal.
“The wind took that and partially broke it from the building,” says Deveau.
It was decided that the piece did not affect anyone's safety at that time and could be repaired when weather improved.
Another callout was from someone who couldn't get out of their home due to doors that were frozen shut.
Little assistance was required from the firefighters, as some fiddling with the lock by the homeowner resolved the issue.
Deveau is hesitant to recommend anything that is not specifically designed for deicing doorlocks as some products could cause damage.
Juanita Sullivan of Yarmouth also had problems with getting out of her house. Both her front and back door were blocked by a seven-foot snowdrift.
“I've never been one to call for help till I knocked out all my options. I wasn't scared or anything, just ticked. I never let a door get in my way before and I wasn't starting now,” she says.
Armed with a hairdryer, she attacked the blockage and solved the problem.
“Now it knows who's boss!” she says.
Deveau does recommend homeowners to have shovels and keep exits free during storms if possible.
He'd also like to remind residents who burn wood or pellets to have their chimneys checked and cleaned annually.
Fighting a chimney fire in 80-90-km winds is not an emergency to be taken lightly.