Farm safety stressed at seminar hosted by M.D. of Taber regional fire department

By Nikki Jamieson
Taber Times
njamieson@tabertimes.com

Safety is key, and farm safety is no different.

On Jan. 16, the Municipal District of Taber Regional Fire Department is hosting a Farm Safety Seminar, where topics such as what to do in case of a fire, electrical safety and emergency preparedness will be discussed.

“It’s kind of based more like an open house,” said Brian Schafer, Vauxhall Regional and M.D. of Taber Regional Fire Chief.

“Just some basic, general information for people to take home. You’ll be able to walk up to the table where the person is at, and they’ll give you the topics, and hopefully some take-aways, like some brochures and pamphlets, ect., that you can read again later on.”

Held once every couple of years, the seminar will take place at the new M.D. Regional Fire Hall in Taber.

“With the department being new — last time it was in Vauxhall — we put it in Taber this time, and when we do it two years down the road it will be in Vauxhall. And that way, we hope to capture everybody in the M.D., like all the farmers who would want to come to it.”

Presentations will be made by Schafer and M.D. deputy fire chief Joe Bruyere on what to do to assist fire departments during an emergency, Fortis on electrical safety on a farm and ATCO Gas and Bow River Gas Co-op will be doing separate presentations on natural gas safety.
New to the seminar this year is a presentation by Canadian Red Cross on emergency preparedness.

“Before, it was just the utility companies,” said Schaffer.

“If we had a major emergency within the M.D. or Town of Vauxhall, we have an agreement with the Red Cross, that they would come out and help us with the situation at the emergency reception centre, to help run and maintain that stuff for us.”

The seminar will take place at the M.D. Regional Fire Hall, at 5814-64 Avenue, Taber, on Monday, Jan. 16 at 7 p.m. To register for the event, please call the M.D. office at 403-223-3541.

“The more the merrier. The more people that have the information, the better we’re off.”

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