Courtesy Brian Wharry

By William Crooks

Local Journalism Initiative

Firefighters from Stanstead and Stanstead Township crossed the border over the weekend to join American colleagues at the annual Northeast International Mutual Aid (NEIMA) Fire School in Newport, Vermont — an event that highlighted the strength of their unique partnership.

Stanstead Township Battalion Chief Brian Wharry, who attended the event, described it as “an incredible weekend with our friends in Vermont.” Wharry, who participated in the pump operators’ course, said the weekend was filled with valuable tips and tricks on “how to keep the water flowing when you need it.” He added that a friendly competition broke out between the pump operators and the water shuttle team, joking that “[Chief] Chris [Goodsell] and the water shuttle team could not keep up.”

The cross-border training is organized under the NEIMA umbrella, a mutual aid organization that brings together fire departments from both sides of the Quebec–Vermont border. According to Stanstead Battalion Chief Chris Goodsell, who also serves as NEIMA’s secretary, the organization promotes a rare kind of collaboration: “We come and help each other without charging a cent — just a handshake.”

Unlike many mutual aid agreements in Quebec, which are typically based on hourly billing for personnel and equipment, NEIMA’s system is built purely on trust and a modest annual membership fee of $100. “We have our own equipment for our protection, they have theirs, and if something happens, we help each other,” Goodsell explained. “It’s like your neighbour has a lawnmower — you both have one, but if his breaks, you lend him yours.”

Wharry said about 120 participants attended this year’s event, which took place at a vocational training centre in Newport. “They let us use the place for free,” he said, noting the large local support for the volunteer fire departments in the region. Firefighters had the chance to enrol in a range of specialized courses, including pump operations, aerial ladder use, airbag rescue techniques, and more. Goodsell added that the Vermont school offers courses that are difficult to find in Quebec, such as school bus extrication and lithium-ion battery fire response.

That specialized training has already proven invaluable. Goodsell recalled how, less than a year ago, Stanstead responders faced a serious school bus accident on Highway 143. Thanks to earlier training received at NEIMA Fire School, local firefighters knew exactly how to approach the complex rescue. “Several of the firefighters that responded had been trained specifically on cutting apart school buses. It was extremely comforting to know that expertise was there,” he said.

Cross-border collaboration isn’t limited to training. Goodsell said firefighters from Vermont sometimes come north for joint practices, especially in emergencies where time is critical. The Stanstead Station and the Derby Line Station in Vermont, for instance, are only about half a kilometre apart — closer than many Canadian stations are to each other.

The collaboration helps both sides save money and improve service. “If I need a ladder truck for a fire this afternoon, I could wait 35 to 40 minutes for one from Coaticook or Magog,” Goodsell said. “Or I could have two American ladder trucks in Stanstead in about 20 minutes.”

Even with heightened border security in recent years, Goodsell confirmed that firefighters continue to cross the border without issues. “If Derby Line is approaching the border with a ladder truck and red lights on, the border agents know they’re not going shopping at Walmart,” he said. “I’ve never seen an incident where we’ve been delayed because of the border.”

Goodsell acknowledged some friendly jokes about cross-border politics but emphasized that such tensions stay firmly out of the fire service. “I’ve never seen a federal politician show up to help me fight a fire,” he said with a chuckle. “At the end of the day, we’re all there for the same reason — to help when people are having the worst day of their lives.”

Both Wharry and Goodsell praised the NEIMA Fire School for providing not only vital skills but also an opportunity to strengthen the bonds between departments. “It’s a great event and a big part of why we work so well together,” Wharry said.