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$25M to boost MNR forest fire centre

The province is spending $25 million to double the size of the Northeast Regional Forest Fire Management Centre at the Sudbury Airport.
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Natural Resources Minister David Orazietti was at the Sudbury Airport on Friday to announce $25 million to double the size of the Northeast Regional Forest Fire Management Centre at the Sudbury Airport. Renovations, which will include adding another hangar, should be complete in 2016. Photo by Darren MacDonald.

The province is spending $25 million to double the size of the Northeast Regional Forest Fire Management Centre at the Sudbury Airport.

Once complete in 2016, the centre will have another hangar and substantially more office and storage space, allowing for more training and eliminating the need for equipment to be stored off site.

David Orazietti, Minister of Natural Resources and Sault MPP, made the announcement Friday afternoon at the Sudbury Airport. He said MNR staff in the northeast region battle 1,110 forest fires every year.

“It takes a team of skilled professionals to put out all those fires-- brave and hard-working fire rangers who battle stubborn blazes, often for weeks and months,” Orazietti said, standing in front of one of the centre's helicopters. “And you know that, because you're on the front lines.”

Orazietti said the province is spending a total of $47 million renovating forest fire management centres across Ontario. Facilities in Haliburton and Armstrong are also being upgraded. Sudbury is getting the biggest boost, he said, because it's in a key location for battle fires in the northeast.

“This key regional transit hub is doubling in size, gaining program and warehouse space as well as an additional hanger,” he said. “This is a tremendously important strategic location.”

He also paid tribute to Capt. Don Filliter of Skead who was killed in May while piloting an Ornge helicopter near Moosonee. Filliter and three others were killed when the helicopter crashed while headed to Attawaspikat to transfer a patient.

“I know it's still very much top of mind for many of you,” Orazietti said. “Don Filliter was a friend to many of you, and a very, very close friend. Our thoughts and prayers continue to be with his family.”

Sudbury MPP Rick Bartolucci said the investment would not only improve the capabilities for the 168 staff who work out of the centre, it would also help the local economy.

Pointing to an architectural drawing of project, he pointed out that local architects Yallowega Belanger were hired to compete the design of the renovated facility.

“They own homes in Sudbury, they pay taxes in Sudbury,” Bartolucci said. “Already the local economy has been affected in a very, very profound way.”

He also had high praise for Orazietti, who is the only MPP from northeastern Ontario in cabinet.

“Premier (Kathleen)Wynne went up a notch in my appreciation for her when she appointed David Orazietti as minister and the minister of Natural Resources,” Bartolucci said.

Mayor Marianne Matichuk said many people aren't aware of what staff at the centre does to control forest fires that rage every summer.

“Your hard work and dedication is largely unseen, but it's always valued and always appreciated,” Matichuk said.

Construction work on the renovated centre is expected to be completed during the first half of 2016.


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Darren MacDonald

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