SIOUX LOOKOUT – Municipal fire protection services have changed in the last half-century. Now Sioux Lookout has a bylaw reflecting that reality.
Sioux Lookout council passed By-Law 01-24 on Sept. 15 to replace a fire service bylaw that was passed in 1970.
The new bylaw brings the municipality in compliance with standards imposed by 1997’s provincial fire protection act, which requires municipalities to include public education and a community safety officer or team in their fire services.
As well, the new bylaw complies with a 2022 regulation establishing mandatory minimum certification requirements for firefighters.
The firefighting profession in Sioux Lookout and elsewhere is ever-evolving, said Fire Chief Jeremy Funk on Friday.
“We’ve had to stay modern and current with our skills,” he said.
Public education, including “public safety messaging” about things like smoke detectors and fire safety, has expanded greatly in the municipality’s fire service this century, he said.
The province’s new set of certification requirements “pose some challenges for some departments,” he said, “but we’re in pretty good shape” with many of the municipality’s firefighters already meeting the requirements.
Sioux Lookout’s mayor, council and chief administrator “have been incredibly supportive” of the fire department, said Funk, who joined Fire and Emergency Services 13 years ago and became fire chief last March after chief Robert Favot retired.
Section B.2.2 of the new bylaw lists public education services as including “fire and life safety public education programs” and “facilitating smoke alarm and carbon monoxide alarm initiatives.” It also mandates the fire department to send “public safety messaging to the media” and deliver “specialized programs.”
