From the Township of Oro-Medonte
The Township of Oro-Medonte today held a sod-turning ceremony to mark the construction of a new Fire Hall at 529 Line 11 North in East Oro, followed by the official opening of the Shanty Bay Fire Hall at 300 Line 3 South.
The new Station will be a modern facility offering training for all firefighters across the Township, providing necessary tools for Oro-Medonte volunteer firefighters to perform their duties of serving and protecting the community.
Highlights of the new Station include:
- a museum honouring the history of firefighting in the Township including display of antique equipment, a variety of photographs, a hand-drawn pumper, etc.
- modern training facility
- four drive-thru bays
- housing of fire apparatus & equipment
- facilities for cleaning & maintenance of fire gear;
- sleeping quarters
- meeting space
- administration office space
- a fitness room
Oro-Medonte Fire & Emergency Services is a volunteer fire department. Current provincially legislated firefighter training requirements require Oro-Medonte firefighters to take time away from employment, and leave their families/home, to complete training. The new fire hall alleviates the need for firefighters to leave the community for training.
"Protecting the safety of our volunteer firefighters is of utmost importance, as demonstrated by Council’s unanimous support to proceed with the project, said Mayor Harry Hughes. "The new station, inclusive of a state-of-the-art training facility, addresses increasing provincially legislated training requirements, and provides our volunteer firefighters with necessary tools to perform their duties."
In addition to the sod-turning ceremony for the new fire hall in East Oro, the Shanty Bay Fire Hall has been officially opened. It was constructed in 2020, replacing a smaller Station located in the Village of Shanty Bay that was over forty years old.
Due to public health measures resulting from COVID-19, the Township refrained from officially opening the Shanty Bay Fire Hall until now.
