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WEST Vancouver firefighters Danny Pistilli (left to right),

Who do you call for aid? Fire, ambulance services both want to roll: ..|

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NEWS photo Grad Russ Samson and Capt. Tom Payne claim they are not dispatched to emergency calls requiring their presence. The

West Van Professional Firefighters’ association set off a firestorm of controversy with an ad urging residents to request the fire department's presence at all medical cails.

Emergi

paper war being fought etween

provincial firefight- ers and paramedics over the provision of pre-hospital care in many B.C, communities spread to the North Shore last week.

A smuall-calibre shot was fired by the West Vancouver Professional Firefighters Association 1n the form ofa half-page advertisement in the North Shore News.

The ad states that both the fire department and the ambulance should be dispatched to all medical emergen- cies. Ir ends with the statement, “Hf firefighters do nos arrive quickly ... You may want to ask why

‘fom Payne, a West Vancouver firefighter, said the aim of the ad was nothing more than the department's desire to bet- ter inform the residents of West Vancour

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Every 3 months or 5,000 km 1790 Marine Dr. North Van 287-8006

-+- Ambulance Siatlons a& Fire Halls

ng emergency

Purcell both deferred comment on the firefighters’ action to provincial spokesman Bob Pearce.

But Pearce diplomatically refused to be drawn into the fray saving only that the ambulance service is pleased with the status quo.

“They provide emergency aid to patients when the ambulance may be delayed by a few minutes,” said Pearce. “They do a great job, we support their work and they support ours.

“AS an organization we really do have a good

relationship with the North Shore’ fire departments,” said Pearce.

Canadian Union ot Public Employees (CUPE) local 873 president Jim Patterson, who represents paramedics, agrees.

“The North Vancouver tire departments have an excellent relationship with the ambulances,” said Patterson. “I's nota dispute with the North Shore firefighters.”

However there is a problem in many other municipalities where relations between the two services are strained at best.

Worth Vancouver

NEWS graphic Cathleen Powell

“We just want people to be aware that when people in West Vancouver call 9-1-1 they should ask for both the ambulance and fire department,” said Payne. “Anywhere in West Vancouver we could be in five minutes.

wth Vancouver Unit of the BC. Ambulance Service

Chief Tim Jones and his West Vancouver counterpart, Nancy See Dispatch page 3

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