The annual reports are out for the two fire departments that serve Huron-Kinloss.
In the last fiscal year, the Ripley-Huron Fire department responded to 32 calls. Nine of those were for actual fires, 11 were medical emergencies.
The numbers are considerably higher for the Lucknow and District Fire Department.
It responded to 118 calls. Seven of those were major fires, 20 were motor vehicle accidents, and 48 were medical calls.
The Lucknow department also went over budget by around six thousand dollars, the first time that has happened in 18 years.
Fire Chief Peter Steer states that hours spent on firefighting were much higher than in past years, and that increased expenses.
Mayor Mitch Twolan says he has no problem with the department being over budget if it means firefighters were receiving better training for the already wonderful job they do for the municipality.
Twolan says the higher number of calls is because firefighters are also responding to medical calls.
He says residents of Huron-Kinloss don’t care who shows up when they call 911, just as long as some kind of emergency service arrives to help them.
Discussions are also beginning about a future expansion or replacement at the Lucknow fire hall.
Twolan says the fire board is starting to look into the matter, but any developments are still a few years away.
