Everyone met the test, says Bent of wildfires response

By Craig Westcott

CBS Mayor Darrin Bent says the outbreak of wildfires around the province this past summer is a reminder of how quickly things can change affecting public safety.
Bent made the remarks following the Town’s proclamation of Fire Prevention Week, which this year is focusing on the safe use of lithium-ion batteries in the home.
But Bent found an upside in all the turmoil caused by the conflagrations.
“It showed us how strong we can be when we work together,” Bent said, thanking a delegation of firefighters on hand in the council chamber for the reading of the proclamation. “Our firefighters here in Conception Bay South played a key role in protecting our community during those few weeks when we saw the forest fire in the Seal Cove area and Holyrood, and we were threatened on our eastern border by the Paddy’s Pond fire.”
Bent noted that when a plea went out to help the firefighters battling the major blaze on the North Shore of Conception Bay, over 30 members of the CBS department raised their hands.
“That speaks volumes of the compassion that our firefighters here in CBS have for their fellow Newfoundlanders and Labradorians going through such a hard time,” Bent said. “The work that firefighters like these do is exhausting, it’s grueling, it’s long hours, the heat in the woods is excruciating, and it’s dangerous. Yet they carried out this work on behalf of the residents here in CBS, Holyrood, and in Kingston with great ability and I want to acknowledge that they did so without any injuries reported. That deserves congratulations. It goes to the strength of your training, your skill and your ability to do your job professionally on behalf of all of us and our safety, and I just want to say thank you on behalf of the residents of Conception Bay South and all those that our firefighters served during those very traumatizing times for some of our residents and indeed recognize you as heroes among us.”
Mayor Bent also thanked the firefighters from the surrounding fire departments in the region.
“Of course, the Holyrood fire department did yeoman’s service down there for a few weeks,” Bent said. “The Torbay Fire Department came and offered up their supplies and their equipment first out of the gate as well as Portugal Cove – St. Phillips, Pouch Cove, Witless Bay, the Airport Fire Department, Harbour Main, Avondale, they all provided safety for our residents during this troubling time.”
Bent also thanked the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary, the Central Avalon Ground Search and Rescue group, the Canadian Red Cross, Salvation Army and local service clubs, including the Kin Club, Lions Club, among others.
“The Department of Forestry did an incredible job in fighting the fire,” Bent added. “They even set up at Frank Roberts Junior High School. The helicopters were landing on Queen E field for a while as they navigated the entire process. And our emergency operations centre here in Conception Bay South with our senior staff here from the Town of Conception Bay South who worked long hours in conjunction with the Provincial Emergency Operations Centre and together they were able to get us information that we could pass along to our residents, so everybody knew what was going on at all times. Having that information was key to residents, knowing that things were being done the way they should be and that they were being looked out for by the emergency people.”
Bent also thanked Town workers who worked behind the scenes, putting up barricades, setting up the evacuation centres, and keeping the I.T. services running. The mayor also thanked the people looking after local schools who threw their doors open to accommodate the emergency personnel and evacuees.
“We appreciate all the work that everybody did,” he said.
Bent said another outstanding feature was the contributions made by people and a long list of local businesses who wanted to help those dealing with the emergency and those displaced from their homes.
“It was spontaneous and that meant that nobody went hungry, everybody had the supplies they needed and they were assured they had nothing to want for by those residents that came forward,” Bent said. “It was great. It helped everybody through. It just makes life easier for those who don’t know what’s going to happen next. Any little thing makes it a little bit more comforting for those who are in alert situations and worried about their belongings and what’s going to happen with their homes. As much as the fires tested us, they proved our resilience and our strength when we work together as a community, and I’ve always said that Conception Bay South knows how to come together to support its own.”
Ward 4 councillor Melissa Hardy seconded the mayor’s sentiments and thanked everyone who helped during the emergencies.
“I had the opportunity to be on site at some of the intake centres working with the Red Cross and Salvation Army,” she noted. “I feel like we were able to give them a peace and calm assurance, so I was very thankful that I was able to participate with that, because some of the residents when they left their homes, they just came with a Sobey’s bag. And that’s all they had. It was very traumatizing to a lot of residents, but I think having the Town staff and some of the other councillors there really helped the residents and everyone around because it was really hard for them. And as for the Town staff, I don’t think they know how much they did in those couple of days. They were helping residents move from table to table – some residents couldn’t walk, couldn’t stand and needed assistance. The rink attendants I just cannot thank them enough. Whenever you called out to them or waved them down, they were so helpful, and I know a lot of residents were very appreciative of that. I just want to make sure they realize how important they were to making sure that (a sense of) calm stayed there for the residents.”