Editorial – It’s been a busy few days for Cramahe Fire Department and a busy few weeks for Brighton Fire Department.
In Cramahe, it started off with a house fire on Wednesday, May 22, 2019. A portion of the home was engulfed in flames along with a vehicle.
Brighton Fire Department was called for manpower along with a tanker.
Thankfully no one was injured, but the home suffered major damage.
Less than 12-hours later around 7 a.m. on Thursday, Cramahe Fire Department were called to an explosion and fire at the Ultramar gas station.
The fire in the basement was knocked down quickly by firefighters, but the investigation by the Ontario Fire Marshall’s office, Northumberland OPP, TSSA continues into Friday.
Then around 6 p.m. on Thursday, firefighters from Cramahe responded to a medical call on Percy Street in downtown Colborne.
One thing that a fire department needs is water, but for members of the Brighton Fire Department, they’ve likely had enough with the rising waters of Lake Ontario along the shoreline.
For weeks, firefighters have been filling and dispersing sand bags in areas of concern around the lakeshore community and Gosport – thousands of sand bags.
Public Works crews are greatly helping out as well with the efforts.
Today’s Northumberland has visited Brighton at least three times and watched the efforts of the men and women of their department along with the men and women of Cramahe Fire Department.
Residents of both communities should be extremely proud of these two departments.
From the Chief’s on down they do their job professionally and passionately.
Both Cramahe Interim Chief Tim Burgess and Brighton Fire Chief Rick Caddick and their firefighters, have had long days.
With the last 24-hours for Cramahe’s fire crews they must be exhausted. Brighton is no different with working weeks on end trying to protect homes along the lakeshore.
The day for fire crews in Brighton starts at approximately 7 a.m. They meet each day and plan what areas they need to concentrate on. Along with that, Caddick keeps an eye on the weather seeing which way the wind will be coming from which helps decide which areas to cover in the community.
Just when you think they’ve gone home for the evening, a big red fire truck pulls around the corner and stops. Firefighters doing their best to make sure the portable pumps are running properly and filled with gas.
Firefighters from both communities are volunteer or part-time. But they get the same training as any full-time department would. They are just as professional. But these men and women have other full-time jobs along with their families.
In times of crisis, their families patiently wait for them to return home safe. Over the last 24-hours for Cramahe and weeks for Brighton their families have likely seen very little of them.
Hopefully the lake peaks very soon and the winds stay calm for the near future.
But if not, know they are there, and more importantly be grateful they are there anytime of the day or night.
When you see a firefighter from Cramahe or Brighton (or Brighton Public Works) throughout your travels over the next few days, maybe just give them a pat on the back, a friendly smile and say a simple “thank you.”
During long days, sometimes that “pat on the back” means everything.
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
