Norman Wells (July 28/03) - The town of Norman Wells can rest assured its fire department is well prepared for disaster.

It was recently announced the inaugural winner of the community fire protection merit award.

It will be presented annually to a community fire department which is most deserving for its advancement in the fire service.

Northwest Territories fire marshal Don Gillis says the town made the most marked improvement over time from five nominations received and is well deserving of the recognition.

It was selected for its work in 2002 to update the fire protection bylaw and also the maintenance of its up-to-date standard operating procedures.

"There was no one area that resulted in the town getting the award -- there were several criteria," Gillis says of the selection process.

From organization of the department to apparatus and proper training, he says a wide spectrum of considerations were factors in the decision.

"The award was designed so any community can be considered."

Alec Simpson, manager of the town of Norman Wells, was pleased the department was recognized for their efforts.

"It takes a lot of commitment," he says of the firefighters' dedication to their duties.

These 18 volunteer firefighters undergo weekly training at the training centre attached to the fire hall.

They also undergo training by the Alberta Fire Training Services for various levels of training, such as defensive response and attacking a fire, he notes.

The department is armed with two fully-equipped fire trucks, an emergency response vehicle, a water truck, air packs and a compressor.

The award was presented to the Norman Wells fire department, Mayor Kevin Diebold, fire chief Al Kuyten and department members by Debbie Delaney, deputy minister of municipal and community affairs (MACA).

It is part of the Fire Service Recognition Program initiated by MACA in 2002 and created to recognize the important contribution to fire protection made by communities and firefighters in the Northwest Territories.