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12 - The Oakville Beaver, Wednesday December 20, 2006 www.oakvillebeaver.com 2006 United Way of Oakville Campaign Total amount raised Living Oakville Beaver LIVING EDITOR: ANGELA BLACKBURN OUR GOAL $ 52% 2.25 million United Way For more info: 845-5571 Phone: 905-845-3824, ext. 248 Fax: 905-337-5567 e-mail: angela@oakvillebeaver.com In the line of fire By Krissie Rutherford OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF LIESA KORTMANN / OAKVILLE BEAVER SUITING UP: Oakville Fire Department Captain Darryl Billy suits up HAZ-MAT (hazardous materials) firefighters Lloyd Hyde and Ron Darichuk at a recent training exercise held at JemPak. Sporting chemical-resistant, fullbody suits and yellow boots, a pair of local firefighters entered Oakville's JemPak plant in a recent training exercise ready to deal with hazardous materials they were told could cause a "violent reaction." The entire process took more than two hours and saw firefighters gathering information and devising a game plan at a command post set up outside. "You have to do things really carefully," said Rem Gaade, who was on site, radio transmitter in hand, listening in on the process to make sure everything ran smoothly. A former chief of special operations with the Toronto Fire Department, Gaade is now sharing his knowledge by offering emergency training sessions through Oakville-based Gaade and Associates. The JemPak operation was one of several simulated exercises local fire- fighters have been going through as part of four emergency management training sessions set up by the company, which specializes in hazardous materials and terrorism. "Today the scenario is a drum of liquid has been opened by a forklift," said Gaade. "It's very close to another tank full of material that it would have a violent reaction with." In other words, it could explode. "Basically you begin the process by marshalling your resources, then you prepare your plan and you go in and do it," Gaade said, noting again, "very carefully." Before the men in full-body suits enter the building, a lot of information is gathered regarding the hazardous material in question. "We're simulating responses in terms of things like the dangers and how they'd handle the product," said OFD training officer, Al Kentie, who was also on site for the training. "In the command centre, that's See Local page 13 the phone book h as of f ic i a l ly e v olv e d . te ys ll, be n g S mp v i e r Ca l Mo mb k ie e l M e Vic mpb lub Ca ld C Go directories have changed. so should your directory advertising. Business Memberships Starting From $36/month For more information on how can help grow your business, call 310-GOLD or email: sales@goldbook.ca ms brought to you by: Directory Commercials Talking Directory Character Free Website & Update Service Rewards Points & Newspaper Offers Print Directory 00:00:20