For Immediate Release Friday, March 27, 2009

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT
Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Sending a Major Incident Response Vehicle to Fargo

The City of Winnipeg’s Fire Paramedic Service will be sending one of two Major Incident Response Vehicles (MIRV) to Fargo, North Dakota today to help with emergency evacuations of hospitals and personal care facilities. Just acquired in 2008, MIRV units are called upon where the potential or reality of a mass casualty situation exists. There is patient capacity for eight stretcher patients or ten ambulatory patients. The MIRV unit will be leaving from Fire Station #1, 65 Ellen Street at around 11:00 a.m. today. Chief Ken Sim will lead a group of five paramedics on the rescue mission. The unit will be out of the City until Sunday night. Media are invited to Fire Station #1 at 10:30 a.m. to see the MIRV unit and interview Chief Sim.

Media inquiries should be directed to the City of Winnipeg Media Inquiry Line at 986-6000 or via email at MediaInquiry@winnipeg.ca