Rail crossings blocked through Cramahe Township has Interim Fire Chief extremely concerned over the delays in responding to emergencies south of the railway tracks.
Interim Fire Chief Tim Burgess was first alerted by Cramahe Township Ken Awender about the problem on Friday, April 26, 2019.
Awender believes the problem happened around 2:45 p.m. and when he spoke with the Interim Fire Chief shortly before 7 p.m. the Chief was unaware of the problem.
“Some of the buses had to turn around and go back and take kids back to the school because buses can’t deviate from protocol,” said Awender speaking to Today’s Northumberland at the Ontario Street crossing.
“Everyone south of the tracks has a delayed emergency response because they (emergency services) would have to come in from the other end.”
As a full-time firefighter with the Toronto Fire Department in an emergency, seconds count.
“It could have an effect. There are people directly on the other side of the tracks (Ontario Street) that would have to wait from someone to go to Thomas Road which is approximately a 20 kilometre deviation for the Cramahe Fire Department to come down, never mind dispatching Grafton Fire Department, once Cramahe realizes the tracks are blocked.”
Interim Chief Burgess said he’s very concerned about not being notified that Ontario Street, Victoria Street is blocked by a freight train. Although Durham Street did not have a freight train blocking the crossing, the rail signals remain activated and the signal arms down.
“It’s extremely concerning for the residents that live in our community,” said Burgess.
“We’ve had this occur several times in the last couple of weeks.”
The Fire Department wasn’t notified by CN Rail any of the times the rail crossings were blocked.
“It either removes our ability to get to them (public) or it delays it significantly.”
“We want to make sure everyone is safe in an emergency and that we can get to them when they call for us.”
If the crossing is blocked, emergency services should be notified immediately so they can make alternate plans in responding.
“Speaking with the rail company today I asked if we could have an emergency split or breaking of the cars to allow us to go through and they indicated it could be a process of up to 30-minutes which to me is too much of a delay.”
Burgess said if the railway could break/split the cars at the crossing prior to an emergency if there is some kind of extended period of delay it would be beneficial for emergency responders.
The delay in responding to a residence if there is a fire or medical emergency south of the crossing on Ontario Street from the firehall would add approximately 15-minutes to the response time.
Burgess said recently there was a medical call south of the tracks and both ambulance and the fire services were stopped as the rail signals were down on Ontario Street.
“We had to look at alternate means to get across to aid this person.”
“This person was in serious medical condition and we had to get there immediately and this delayed our response significantly.”
If emergency services knew the rail signals were down they could make alternate plans, possibly coordinating with a neighbouring municipality.
Three VIA trains travelled eastbound through the second line on Ontario Street within the span of approximately 30 minutes.
Today’s Northumberland has reached out to CN Rail and will provide an update when they respond.
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
