A Greater Sudbury volunteer firefighter was fired recently, in the wake of his comments about a tragic motor vehicle collision in 2017.
Marc Morin, the former chief steward for the former chief steward for the Christian Labour Association of Canada (CLAC), which represents Greater Sudbury volunteer firefighters questioned in the local media why the fire hall in Capreol wasn’t dispatched to the 2017 collision on Suez Drive.
The collision tragically claimed the life of 22-year-old Patrick Roussel-Sivret.
Morin was fired from his position on Thursday due to his comments about the collision.
Since Morin’s termination, the city has released its statement of facts in response to the Suez Drive collision that occurred on May 27, 2017
“Due to ongoing inaccurate discussions in the public and in the name of transparency and public trust, the City of Greater Sudbury is providing facts related to the emergency response that took place on the evening of May 27, 2017, on Suez Drive in Hanmer,” said a news release from the city.
“Although it is uncommon for the city to release this level of detail for any specific incident, it is critical that our community trust that their fire service makes informed and fact-based decisions related to emergency response; that they understand the safety of every resident is a duty to be taken very seriously.”
The city also stated that misinformation in the public has caused significant emotional distress to everyone involved.
“We hope these details clarify the events that took place that night and end the turmoil caused by these inaccuracies,” said the city news release.
“First and foremost, there are reports that it took responders 30 minutes to arrive on scene, and there could have been a different outcome had the Capreol Station been dispatched. This is 100 per cent false.”
According to the city, responders were on scene within approximately six minutes and dispatching Capreol Station would not have changed the tragic outcome.
Following is the city’s chronological timeline and facts of the emergency response and dispatch to this incident:
• Paramedic and Fire Services were dispatched on May 27, 2017, at 10:43 p.m. for a reported motor vehicle collision on Suez Drive, in line with response protocols for this type of emergency.
• The first vehicle on scene was an Advanced Care Paramedic, within approximately six minutes, the second Advanced Care Paramedic, arrived four minutes later. Several other Paramedic Vehicles responded throughout the incident.
• Val Therese Engine 16, with two full-time firefighters and equipped with full auto-extrication equipment, arrived in nine minutes and 57 seconds. Pumper 17, a volunteer truck from Hanmer, arrived in 11 minutes and 41 seconds, followed by a second volunteer truck from Val Therese at 12 minutes and 24 seconds. The New Sudbury Station (approx. 26 km from the accident scene) was also dispatched as a guaranteed response backup truck, which also had a full set of auto extrication equipment.
• Our response protocols for motor vehicle collisions requiring extrication use Geographic Information Systems (GIS) mapping data and total response times (time from dispatch to arrival on scene). Hanmer Station is the closest responding station for Suez Drive (approx. 3 km). Val Therese full-time firefighters are the fastest responding station equipped with a full set of auto-extrication equipment (approx. 9 km) and a backup full set of auto-extrication equipment from the closest city core station is New Sudbury (approx. 26 km).
• To ensure coverage and adequate response to emergencies in our community, distance, response times, guaranteed response, potential number of responding volunteer firefighters, and type of equipment available are all considered when determining which vehicles are dispatched to an emergency. Since 2001, the response boundary of the Hanmer/Val Therese/Val Caron composite response area included all roads south of Capreol Lake Road, including Suez Drive.
• For context, emergency incidents in the Suez Drive area maintain the following historical data:
o Val Therese full-time truck: average response time to Suez Drive is 10 minutes and 1 second for the approx. 9 km trip.
o Val Therese volunteer truck: average response time to Suez Drive is 14 minutes and 50 seconds for the approx. 9 km trip.
o Hanmer volunteer truck: average response time of 17 minutes and 15 seconds for the approx. 3 km trip.
o If required for any emergency incident, crews responding to Suez Drive can request the Capreol Fire truck, which has an average response time of 17 minutes and 51 seconds for the approx. 6 km trip.
• Our Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) system is designed to respond to all emergencies with the closest fire truck, and when required, additional fire trucks which carry the required equipment for the specific emergency. These systems are based on a variety of data points to ensure the best and fastest possible response to all emergencies in our community.
• Capreol Fire Station 18, in 2017, had limited auto-extrication equipment. They possessed a combination-tool, which can be used in specific and limited circumstances. The equipment at Capreol would not, however, been effective in the circumstances encountered on Suez Drive that evening, and would have required additional tools and equipment be used at that scene. As their tools were not required and as extra firefighter resources were not required, the Capreol fire truck was not requested or dispatched.
• In 2018, in line with our regular review of response protocols and during volunteer firefighter engagement sessions, the need to replace equipment at the Capreol Station was identified and completed. A full-set of auto extraction equipment was placed on the Capreol fire truck and the addition of this station to all extrication incidents in the Suez Drive area was completed. This decision recognized that the Capreol Station covers a large area north of Capreol for which they are closest responding station.
Greater Sudbury Fire Services regularly reviews response recommendations in conjunction with 911, and Greater Sudbury Police Services.
The city’s Computer Aided Dispatch system has been designed, since 2015, to respond to all emergencies with the closest fire truck, and if required, additional fire trucks which carry the required equipment for the specific emergency.
“Despite any information circulating in the public, at no time was the current fire services administration contacted by any staff member with concerns related to the response of this incident,” said the city.
“We would like to express our deepest sympathies to the family and loved ones of the victim, and acknowledge the impacts these public discussions have on those deeply affected by this tragedy.”
The family of the victim was informed of the city’s intent to release this information prior to public issue.
