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|‘Waterfoo Chronicle 133rd Year No. 5 The Waterloo fire department has a "weakness‘ in available firefighting strength, and should be beefed up through an increase of 27 firefighters, as well as equipment and stations over the next two years, the Fire service study recommends. The report, released last Friday, noted response times to many areas of the city are "unacceptable by the norms of good practice". The northern, western and eastern perimeters of the city were cited for major deficiencies in response time. Also recommended for immediate implementation is the hiring of three dispatchers budgetted for in 1987 but never hired, the elimination of a backlog of timeâ€"off owed the present staff, building a northern fire station, In the longer term, Waterloo will need new stations in acquiring a new pumperâ€"aerial truck and a new triple _ the east and west ends of the city, said Baird. "Five combination pumper. The city should also hire immediâ€" _ stations may seem a lot, but you are growing fast," he ately a permanent trainer to conduct onâ€"going practice said. drills, as well as train new firefighters, noted the report. The report recommended the third fire station be n h« a â€" 1 E: s t 1 m /. %K *# ty â€" 2 e s EP > P i 0 * $ S La «.: s . & %'flf’w M E: e .. wl ie * us * k 6 hi . _ e m #*»a 7 it . e s y o F ~%/.. . ue 2 on 0e o e k .00 i wldh I _ _ im t h C _ .â€"~ ME EE _ # ; e . e . C es E % w f 2 w2 9 * * e * ..‘ f 1 h > g _ se , . 3. E o s ThE V\ o e ns 6.‘ MA 1 % 3 en : g 4 . ol | t i e * [ s w # l uk. . m F T it _ s > ; «‘ a9 a f . s g F d Nes . $ d e «o n Â¥ 1ea. ue" § [Â¥E _ w £ A 3 mmA s wl i _ ' P 4. 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Students, right, were reaching out to this harmiess Honduran milk snake held Study recommendations acted on "You have a lot of catching up to do," council was told _ brought into operation in early 1989, and recommended a by Donal Baird, coâ€"author of the $30,000 report conducted _ location on Northfield Drive in the area of Parkside Dr. to by Dilion Consulting Engineers and Planners of Toronto. _ King St. The location, chosen by computer program, is "As soon as possible, we‘re advocating the hiring of four _ close to the area identified by Fire Chief John Staller in lieutenants and 12 firefighters. which is one pumper 1982. "As soon as possible, we‘re advocating the hiring of four lieutenants and 12 firefighters, which is one pumper crew." That recommendation was acted on by council Monday, which unanimously approved a plan to hire the 16 firefighters this year, as well as approving a new fire station in the north of the city to be constructed by 1989. Baird recommended the firefighters be hired even before the northern station is built, as the city is seriously short of staff. â€" _ oo The city has not increased its 67â€"member fire depoartâ€" ment since 1974, "while the city has grown substantially in population and building stock to house it," noted the report. In the longer term, Waterloo will need new stations in the east and west ends of the city, said Baird. "Five stations may seem a lot, but you are growing fast," he CREEPY CRAWLERS Waterioo, Ontario 35 cents by Toronto Nature Centre‘s Jim Lovisek. Squeals of ohhs and ahhs abounded as Lovisek showed students eight exotic animals Thursday, including an Amegican crocodile, a redâ€"foot tortise from South America and a nineâ€"foot Burmese python. isobel Lawson photos _ Another recommendation calls for the hiring of a fourth fire prevention specialist to help educate children and the public of the importance of fire prevention. Coun. John Shortreed a member of the study steering committee told council, "I think the report is quite good in pointing out areas where the department needs to be improved...It sets a challenge for our department, and it‘s going to give them the tools to meet that challenge." Coun. Andrew Telegdi, who has in the past been vocal in his concern about Waterloo fire services said, "The services over the last decade have not been adequate. "I hope this situation never arises again." Council unanimously received the report and authorâ€" ized implementation of recommendations needing immeâ€" diate attention. The report will be circulated to interested groups for comment. f