Fire chief heralds successful year

By Dave Mathieson
The Record
SPRINGHILL - Members of the Springhill Fire Department ate, drank and gave out awards during their annual banquet Saturday night at the Springhill Fire Hall.
During the banquet Fire chief Tom Corkum talked about the department's accomplishments over the last year.
They increased membership from 17 to 23, with five new members pending. Several members have also attended the Fire School in Waverly, while others have attended training sessions held within the region, including the Fire Training Ground to be established in Oxford.
Corkum also talked about how the County's Emergency Management Organization (EMO) was put to the test during last years ice storm.
The department also upgraded their turnout gear with the purchase of 10 new sets of bunker gear, with the hope of purchasing 10 more during 2010.
Corkum also talked about the four-wheeler they won in a national contest sponsored by Kymco.
The department has been in the process of upgrading their communication system from analog to digital and expects the new system to be up and running this week.
"The digital system with allow the department to communicate with other town departments at a higher quality of reception and less interruption from outside sources," Corkum said.
The lack of an aerial truck has prompted the formation of a committee to investigate what is available as an affordable unit that would serve the department for several years.
"When we find a suitable unit we will be approaching the town with a proposal," Corkum said.
At the end of the yearly round-up Corkum said, "Due to the fact there were no fire fatalities within our area of responsibility, a few minor injuries to firefighters and a significant drop in calls, 2009 would have to be considered a successful year for our fire department.
"Also, without the support of the fire officers and firefighters our successes could not happen," Corkum added. "And I am asking for their continuing support in 2010."