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The history of the Ajax Fire Department The following excerpts from the history of the Fire Department in Ajax are reprinted with permission from Randy Rainthorpe's chapter in "A Town Called Ajax" published in 1995. "The Fire Department of the Town of Ajax is an excellent example of an agency which has evolved with the community it serves. It continues to adapt to the needs of a growing town, providing the high level of service the citizens have come to expect. In the 1990s, there are two fire stations in Ajax, Station #1 at 40 Westney Road North and Station #2 (Headquarters) at 435 Monarch Avenue...Station #2 accommodates the Fire Prevention Division (two inspectors), the Training Division (one officer) and four alarm operators. ...In August 1941 DIL started operation and the following month a permanent fire department was organized... In 1952 the department acquired a new La France pumper truck which, in the 1990s, is still used for ceremonial occasions such as parades... In a 1974 boundary change enacted by the new Regional Government... Pickering Village and Pickering Beach each had a fire station, which then became part of the Ajax Fire Department. At the beginning of 1985 the Fire Department joined with Durham Region Police and Ontario Ambulance Service in introducing the medical aid tiered response system... Having the tiered response system in place facilitated introduction, in 1991, of the 911 emergency call system... Not all calls imply life-threatening emergencies. But no matter how trivial the situation may seem... the Fire Department responds to every call... The Ajax Fire Depart-ment has a long-standing tradition of involvement with the community. In the 1960s members of the Fire Department launched the annual "Muscular Dystrophy Toll Days"... The 1994 proceeds amounted to ten thousand dollars, which was directed to various causes including the Ajax & Pickering General Hospital Children's Wish Fund... In the 1990s, as part of the Greater Toronto Area food bank system, the fire halls are used as drop-off points for food donations. In a lighter vein, the Ajax Fire Department participates in annual fundraising events such as the Great Hospital Bed Race and festive occasions such as Ajax Home Week." Report From the Ajax Fire and Emergency Services in 1999 Fire Chief Randy Wilson is proud that the Ajax Fire and Emergency Services is prepared as we head into the twenty-first century. The Department is a composite one, consisting of full-time and volunteer firefighters. The Ajax Fire and Emergency Services provides a variety of services to the community. Their primary aim is to meet the needs of their customers, whatever those needs may be. Today, Ajax Firefighters respond to most 9-1-1 calls for help and provide emergency medical services to critically ill patients. People trapped in automobiles depend on the expert skills of the Firefighters. Additionally, Firefighters teach fire safety programs in the elementary schools, provide frightened children with "trauma dogs" to bring comfort during times of crisis and visit many community events each year, often ac-companied by the Department's costumed mascot, Sparky and yes, Firefighters still put out fires! The Fire Prevention Division conducts inspections of residential, commercial, industrial and institutional structures in Ajax to ensure compliance with the Ontario Fire Code. The members of this division. also oversee specific sections of the Ontario Building Code by reviewing architectural drawings prior to construction, as well as plan readings for fire alarm, sprinkler, stand-pipe systems and fire access routes. Since 1997, the Ajax Fire and Emergency Services has provided a Defibrillator Program to the community largely due to the financial support of the Royal Canadian Legion - Branch 322, Ajax. Defibrillation is an advanced life-saving technique, and its purpose is to re-establish a normal heart rhythm to individuals who have suffered a heart attack. Through the timely delivery of a controlled electric shock, the life of an Ajax resident can be extended. Fire Chief Randy Wilson stated, "With the increasing volume of medical responses in our community, defibrillators have increased the survival rate for the citizens of our community." The Department is also proud of the level of specialized services, such as hazardous materials responses, auto extrication, ice and water rescue, but Chief Wilson is especially proud of the involvement of the majority of the members in the Department's numerous active committees and work teams. "We can't provide the level of service to the community that we do without the involvement and dedication of our people," said Chief Wilson. Residents of Ajax can enter the new millennium with a renewed confidence and sense of security knowing that the Ajax Fire and Emergency Services is ready to face the challenges of the future. The goal of the Ajax Fire and Emergency Services is to provide the highest level of fire protection, emergency medical and public education, services to those who live, work and visit our community. Picture, top of column 3: Ajax firefighter in action.