One thing going for Stittsville Coun. Shad Qadri as he deals with this rash of fires in his community is his involvement with Crime Prevention Ottawa (CPO).

Qadri is the chairman of the board of directors and he’s well-positioned to harness the power of the organization. He was at a community meeting about the fires last Friday and people asked for more cops to patrol the area. That, of course, is not necessarily the answer since it would take officers away from another area.

“My thought came back to this organization,” Qadri said at a CPO board meeting Monday night. “Obviously everyone is on edge and everyone had their nerves up.”

Qadri wants CPO involved in the next community meeting in Stittsville. It’s a chance, he said, to show CPO can be a citywide organization, and not one that just tackles issues in the urban core. It’s one thing Mayor Jim Watson has been critical about when it comes to CPO.

Police Chief Vern White, who also sits on the CPO board, pointed out it’s likely someone, or people, who live in Stittsville who are responsible for the fires, so the community must take an active role in keeping watch.

Trying to make an impact in a current issue, and one that’s getting plenty of headlines, would be a good move for CPO, which has at times struggled to convince politicians (and columnists) of its worth at City Hall.

Kudos to city staff who have been working around the clock to care for the evacuees from the Kingfisher Lake First Nation.

Ottawa answered the bell when Emergency Management Ontario was looking for cities to assist with the evacuation in northern Ontario, where forest fires continue to rage. Nearly 300 people touched down in Ottawa this week and they are staying at Algonquin College residences.

City staff were quick to jump into action and they worked around the clock to make sure the evacuees were settled in. Paramedics and public health officials played a big role assessing the injured.

I hear now the city will be working with the Wabano Centre for Aboriginal Health on programs and activities for Ottawa’s guests.

You couldn’t help but be moved by today’s recipient of the city’s heroism award.

OC Transpo bus driver Larry Langevin (pictured right) was driving his No. 14 route through Carlington last April 22 when he saw a house on fire on Cavan St. He got out of his bus to alert residents in neighbouring homes before running into the burning house.

Langevin helped four people get out of the house and brought them to safety on the bus. He also assisted a woman who jumped from a second-storey window and received back and ankle injuries.

He courageously tried to enter the house again to save a fifth person, but the flames and smoke were too much.

Ole Hansen, 63, died in the blaze.

(The Sun’s Doug Hempstead filed this report on the day of the fire)

Langevin was very emotional after receiving his award from Mayor Jim Watson.

“It was very hard that day. I didn’t know it, but I knew the people I saved,” Langevin said.

He said he had connections with everyone in the house. He had breakfasts with the victim.

His recollection of the day brought some to tears in the packed audience at city council.

“I did what I could. I tried hard,” Langevin said. “I couldn’t do any more.”

Hats off to Mr. Langevin.