Essa fire department receives approval on pumpers
by Richard Blanchard

Essa township residents may be receiving reduced insurance rates because of their fire department's most recent accreditation of its pumpers.

The fire department received Superior Tanker Shuttle accreditation on June 12 following testing by Fire Underwriters Survey on June 8.

The accreditation will mean those township residents within eight kilometres of either the Angus or Thornton fire station will receive a better fire protection rating which could lead to cheaper insurance rates. Township fire chief Paul Macdonald told council last week that not every municipality is able to qualify for this rating.

"Our rating under this test was very good. It really shows the strength of our fire department's volunteers," he said. Essa firefighters were able to transport 525 imperial gallons or 2,385 litres per minutes over a two hour period during the test. In order to receive the accreditation, the fire department had to transport 900 litres per hour so the Essa fire department's rate was more than three times the minimum required. Township deputy mayor Terry Dowdall told Macdonald and the dozen firefighters on hand for the presentation that he had been hearing favourable comments from township residents about the accreditation.

A copy of the letter from Fire Underwriters, who conducted the test, is on the township's web-site, http:// www.essatownship.on.ca.