Whitchurch-Stouffville Fire and Emergency Services (WSFES) are now better equipped to handle emergencies and keep the local community of Stouffville safe thanks to a grant from Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation of Canada.
The foundation recognized the need and awarded WSFES $21,840 to be utilized to acquire a state-of-the-art drone, revolutionizing fireground assessments, aiding in search and rescue operations, and strengthening fire prevention measures.
“We are extremely grateful to Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation of Canada and our local Firehouse Subs in Stouffville for providing us with this grant and positively impacting our community,” Fire Chief Bill Snowball said. “We are thankful to be given the tools needed to continue to keep the citizens of Stouffville safe and protected.”
Beyond its immediate operational benefits, the drone will also serve as an invaluable tool and a vital resource for creating training materials.
The information captured by drones during firefighting operations will enhance training initiatives and foster continuous improvement within WSFES. Furthermore, the drone will prove instrumental in fire prevention inspections, offering enhanced visual opportunities to assess mechanical components by providing detailed rooftop visuals of buildings.
The Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation of Canada has awarded 319 grants to public safety organizations since 2015. This grant is one of 13 Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation of Canada awarded to public safety organizations during the most recent grant cycle. The 13 grants will provide critical lifesaving equipment valued at more than $362,000 across Ontario.
Photo: Firehouse Subs leaders present a cheque to WSFES. (L-R): Deputy Chief Trevor Wawryk, Councilor Maurice Smith, FH Subs Manager Ben Hayward, Mayor Iain Lovatt, FH Subs Franchisee Warren Luong, Deputy Chief Jeff Bignell, Councillor Rick Upton, Councillor Hugo Kroon, Fire Chief Bill Snowball, and CAO Sunny Bains.
