By Amanda Newman
The snow stopped, the rains came briefly, the sun shined and the roads began to clear. It may look like the storm is over, but for the Canby Fire District, it makes no difference.
“The dynamic right now, as of the day after Christmas, is the Canby Fire Department is still challenged by weather,” Division Chief Troy Buzalsky said Friday.
Although many drivers have removed their tire chains, the fire department cannot afford that luxury. “We have to respond with certainty,” he said.
“Responding with certainty” means keeping chains on all vehicles. If the fire department responds to a call in Oregon City or out in the country, where the streets might not be as clear as in town, the vehicles must be prepared to deal with snow and ice. Chaining and unchaining mid-call is not an option.
“We are still treating things as if we are in an extreme storm, even though the main roads are clear,” Buzalsky said. Thanks to the chains, “the people (being transported) will get a very rough ride to the hospital.”
Still, the fire department is ready for action — a lot of action. “We’re expecting to be pretty busy today,” Buzalsky said, explaining that people who don’t feel well often put off calling for help until after the holiday. Since 6 a.m. Friday, the department has had an almost steady stream of calls.
| 
