The La Broquerie Fire Chief says his crews have responded to 30% more fire calls in 2018 than they have in recent years.

Alain Nadeau explains: “For the two previous years we had finished really low with only 60-odd calls, but I think around 100 calls is normal for the size of municipality we work in.”

Though the 107 calls received in 2018 may seem like a threatening increase, Nadeau says that number is nothing to be too concerned with.

“This wasn’t an abnormal year, it was fairly regular. We had a bit of a hairy spring but it settled down after that.”

Of the 2018 fires, Nadeau notes that only 10% took place within the town of La Broquerie while the remaining 90% occurred within the surrounding rural area. He adds that the calls were split evenly between vehicle collisions and property fires.

Meanwhile, Nadeau also indicates that six new recruits joined the team as of Thursday. These newcomers will spend their first year observing the firefighters and helping with menial work.

“They will be in the fire hall for the first year without training,” comments Nadeau. “They’ll come to fires to watch, but only assist with the less dangerous tasks. If they like it after the year they will enter more rigorous training.”

At the end of the year, each new recruit will have three more years of extensive courses before entering the force on an official capacity.