Glynn Fleury (left) accepts the Chief’s helmet from Virgil Dayment.
Peter L. Smith
Glynn Fleury (left) accepts the Chief’s helmet from Virgil Dayment.
Peter L. Smith
L’ISLE-AUX-ALLUMETTES – July 25 marked the official launch of the Pontiac Ouest Fire Department at the L’Isle-aux-Allumettes fire station. The new department combines the Chichester Sheenboro Fire Department (CSFD) with the L’Isle-aux-Allumettes Fire Department, (LAFD) which allows them to pool finances, resources and manpower under one name. Both fire stations will continue to be used and fundraising will also continue.Glynn Fleury, who served as Chief for the CSFD since 2011, assumed the duties of Fire Chief for Pontiac Ouest while Virgil Dayment, the LAFD Chief for the last 10 years, will stay on as a firefighter. Fleury will be working four days a week, eight hours a day.
A new fire safety committee was also formed consisting of Sheenboro Mayor Doris Ranger and councillor Dick Edwards, Chichester Mayor Donald Gagnon and councillor Jacques Fleury, and L’Isle-aux-Allumettes Mayor Winston Sunstrum and councillor Roger Lavoie (also committee chair). Staff members include Alicia Jones (L’Isle-aux-Allumettes Assistant DG) and Fern Roy (Sheenboro DG). Jacques Piche, MRC Pontiac Fire and Public Safety Coordinator, will advise the committee as needed.
Outgoing Chief Dayment was thanked for his 10 years of service and was presented with a token of appreciation by Chief Glynn Fleury. Sunstrum, Ranger and Gagnon each addressed the firefighters and attending crowd, as did Dayment and Fleury.
The Pontiac Ouest Fire Department will continue to update their training and seek new recruits. Their major focus will continue to be the Fire Safety Cover Plan and they will hold two practices each month to ensure every one of their 32 firefighters can attend.
Any funds already accumulated by each of the former fire departments will remain their own for necessary expenses and a new financial account will be established for the Pontiac Ouest department.
