APRIDS asks for expansion of L’Ile-des-Sœurs fire station

The present fire station has only two fire trucks, but they are not equipped with large ladders. And yet, this type of equipment is indispensable when it comes to serving tall condominium towers located in the southern tip of the island. According to APRIDS, the norms of both the Minister of Public Safety and the National Fire Protection Association provide that in such areas, two large ladders or nacelles should arrive on the emergency site at least less than ten minutes from the time an alarm is activated. Since these vehicles have to depart from the mainland of Verdun, they are not able to fulfill this timeframe.

APRIDS confirms that it is rare for a pump truck located in the island to arrive within the stipulated five minute delay. For a truck with a large ladder which must depart from Verdun’s fire station, it would be impossible, APRIDS says, to respect the 10-minute delay, especially when there is traffic on highway 15 south which is often the case. The association is therefore requesting the expansion of the fire station in L’Ile-des-Sœurs so that a large ladder can be accommodated in addition to two pump trucks. Moreover, the association is also requesting that this expansion be completed in 2009 or 2010.