For the past couple of years, access was limited to the fire halls in Taché. Now with restrictions lifitng, these buildings have re-opened to the public for visits and some fire safety education.

Chief Allan Rau says it has been a while since their doors were open for visitors and educational tours. And Rau notes those are important aspects of their job.

As children become more comfortable with the appearance of firefighters, they are less likely to be afraid when they see fire crews during an emergency.

Taché Fire Chief Allan Rau.

“What we do is we get one individual in the background to get dressed up in his full turnout gear with an SCBA (Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus) on, with a flashlight,” Rau says. “We introduce him, and he comes in there and he talks to them while he's got the mask on so they’re aware of what it will sound like, what it will look like, so they don’t get scared when they see us coming.”

As much as children and educators look forward to the fire safety education at the fire halls, Rau says this interaction is also special for the firefighters.

“They love it,” says Rau. “They love doing that interaction, they love pushing the fire prevention word out, and the public education just so the residents of Taché, and others that come in, are fire safe.”

Tours of fire halls in Landmark, Lorette, and Ste. Geneviève can be arranged by contacting Chief Allan Rau at firechief@rmtache.ca

The Taché Fire Department is a rural, paid-on-call fire department with 40+ members within three Stations serving about 12,000 residents.