RED LAKE REGIONAL HERITAGE CENTRE
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Mine Rescue

The Ontario government created Ontario Mine Rescue (OMR) in the wake of the 1928 Hollinger Mine fire in Timmins, Ontario. The mine and the town were not capable of fighting the fire, so mine rescue teams were called in from Pittsburg, PA. The blaze was eventually put out, but 39 miners perished. After the tragedy, a provincial royal commission was undertaken to determine how the deaths could have been avoided. The result of the commission was the creation of OMR in 1929, under the umbrella of the Department of Mines. Today, OMR is part of Workplace Safety North and 2019 marks OMR's 90th anniversary.

Red Lake is one of eight mine rescue districts in Ontario, where OMR regulates the training of volunteer first responders in mine rescue efforts. As first responders, mine rescue teams fight fires, rescue injured personnel and respond to a wide range of incidents.


Training
Today, there are four qualifications that potential mine rescue volunteers must meet. They must:
  1.    Complete the Common Core Underground Modules
  2.    Pass a physical exam
  3.    Pass a fit (respiratory) test
  4.    Pass the mine rescue course

OMR requires potential members to complete a 40-hour basic training course. A significant part of this course is seeing if volunteers can use a breathing apparatus. On top of this introductory course, mine rescue teams are continually training to keep their skills sharp and learn new standards. District Mine Rescue Officers provide six training sessions a year to complement individual study.

Mine Rescue
Picture
Mine worker in rescue stretcher, 1928
Picture
Historic rescue stretcher and the Dräger BG174 breathing apparatus
Equipment
The primary piece of equipment that mine rescue operators use is the breathing apparatus. When OMR began the McCaa self-contained oxygen apparatus. The McCaa had a two-hour capacity and was used by OMR until the mid-1960's. The Dräger BG174, which had a four-hour breathing capacity, replaced the McCaa. OMR teams used the Dräger BG174 for almost 40 years before replacing it with the Dräger BG4 that mine rescue teams use today.

Gas detection technology and rescue stretchers have been mainstays in the mine rescue equipment since its foundation. Historically, the primary gas detection instrument was the flame lamp. The flame within the lamp reacted to the conditions around it, alerting mine rescue officers to the presence of gas or lack of oxygen. Today, mine rescue teams use digital gas detectors. The main difference between historic and modern rescue stretchers is the material. Historically, the stretchers were made from metal, whereas today they are made out of much lighter fibreglass. The design of the bucket-like stretcher has also become boxier.

Other standard equipment includes hydraulic spreader, hydraulic bolt cutters, foam generator, lifting bags, hydraulic splitter, thermal imaging cameras and radios.

Teams
Ideally, mines have three five-member teams (primary, reserve and backup). Individual teams usually have five people: a Captain; #2 man (carries the gas detector); #3 man (carries the first aid kit); #4 man (carries a spare breathing apparatus); and a Vice Captain. The Captain assigns tasks and ensures the safety of team members. The underground team is supported by a briefing officer, who briefs and monitors the team while acting as a liaison with management. If an emergency is severe, a rotation of nine teams is formed.

Competitions
Mine rescue teams compete regionally, provincially and even internationally to encourage high standards, show off their skills and support ongoing training. Teams have to work their way through a scenario, such as a fire or a rescue. They are scored based on their quality of work and adherence to standards. Historically these competitions were held underground but moved to the surface in the late 1960's.

For more information on mine rescue visit the Ontario Mine Rescue website.

Picture
1956 regional championship mine rescue team from Cochenour-Willans Gold Mines
Picture
2016 Regional championship mine rescue team from Goldcorp’s Red Lake Gold Mines - Photo courtesy of Goldcorp

From the Newsroom...
Picture
Source: The District News, June 9, 1960
Picture
Source: The District News, June 8, 1961


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Glossary
Red Lake Regional Heritage Centre
51A Highway 105 P.O. Box 64
Red Lake, ON, Canada
P0V 2M0
807-727-3006
[email protected]
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The Red Lake Regional Heritage Centre is a charitable organization, funded by the Municipality of Red Lake, the Ontario Ministry of Culture, and through fundraising activities. Reg # 87315 2714 RR001.

  • Home
  • Heritage Online
    • Puzzles
    • Podcast
    • Online Programming >
      • Bannock
      • Dream Catchers
      • Eco Printing
      • Flower Pounding
      • Fur Trade
      • Mushrooms
      • Pysanky
      • Suncatchers
      • Wild Teas
  • Exhibitions and Events
    • Events
    • Upcoming Exhibits >
      • 100 Years of Red Lake
    • Current Exhibits >
      • NNT
    • Past Exhibits >
      • Hospital History
      • SouthPaw Photography
      • EZHI NAMANG: HOW WE SEE IT
      • Triple K Art
      • Red Lake on the Move
      • Fish Stories
      • Red Lake Art Show >
        • Red Lake Art Show 2016
        • Red Lake Art Show 2017
        • Red Lake Art Show 2018
        • 2023 Art Show
        • 2024 Red Lake Art Show
      • Woodland Caribou Provincial Park
      • Fire People >
        • Fire 14-1
        • Fire 14-2
    • Red Lake Speaker Series
  • History
    • On This Spot
    • Red Lake History
    • Aviation History
    • Immigration
    • Residential Schools
    • Heritage Centre History
    • Red Lake District Souvenir Record
  • Gift Shop
    • Accessories >
      • Jewellery
      • Key Holders
      • Purses, Wallets & Bags
    • Local Artists >
      • Rhonda Beckman
      • Valerie Blab
      • Kaila Erb
      • Lauren Furman
      • Patrick Hunter
      • Aaron LeBlanc
      • Amy Newport
      • Hidehiro Otake
      • Mark Nadjiwan
      • Sara Ramer-Dean
      • Rebecca Saikkonen
      • Wendy Yutzy
    • Books & DVDs
    • Cards
    • Clothing >
      • Scarves & Hats
      • T-Shirts
      • Long Sleeves
      • Socks
    • Home & Kitchen >
      • Glassware
      • Home Décor
      • Kitchen
      • Mugs
    • Glass Ornaments
    • Magnets
    • Miscellaneous
    • Norval Morrisseau Designs
  • Support
    • Volunteering
    • Memberships
    • Donor Wall
  • About Us
    • Strategic Plan
    • Annual Report
    • Services
    • Our Mission
    • Collections Policy
    • Newsletter
    • Employment Opportunities
    • Staff & Board
  • Mailing List
  • Mining Map
  • Donate Now
  • Woodland-Art
  • Mural Project Survey Teachers