New Forest Fire Management Headquarters

Minister of Natural Resources David Ramsay was in Chapleau on Tuesday morning along with MPP for Algoma-Manitoulin Mike Brown for the official opening of the new Forest Fire Management Headquarters.

The following is a press release from the MNR:

CHAPLEAU — The Ontario government has made northern communities safer and is protecting the region’s forest resources by completing construction of a $2.4 million forest fire management headquarters in Chapleau, Natural Resources Minister David Ramsay announced today.
"The Chapleau headquarters will ensure fire response staff are close to fire-prone areas so they can more effectively protect people, their property and our valuable forest resources," said Ramsay. The government is working on behalf of northerners to overcome the unique challenges of Northern Ontario and build stronger northern
communities."
The new fire management headquarters will hold 60 fire and
aviation personnel during the forest fire season. The complex will include offices, a lunchroom/meeting room, space for fire response planning and coordination, a communications room, an equipment area and a warehouse.

Construction of the Chapleau headquarters began in September 2005. Staff will move in this fall. The project is part of ReNew Ontario, the McGuinty government's strategic five-year, $30 billion infrastructure investment plan. "The Ontario government is committed to investing in essential infrastructure in Northern Ontario ," said Minister of Public Infrastructure Renewal David Caplan. "We’re helping communities in the north protect the health and safety of their residents as well as the northern economy and environment."

In the photo (from left to right) are Minister David Ramsay, Chapleau Mayor Earl Freeborn, Brian Schulz, Fire Services Coordinator, Wes Woods, Chapleau Fire Management Supervisor, Charlie Lauer, ADM, Field Services, Algoma-Manitoulin MPP Mike Brown and Ken Gibbons, Manager, East Fire Region, Sudbury.