Firefighter brings lessons from fighting Canadian wildfires back to Cape Cod
Last month, a team of 11 wildland firefighters from the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) was dispatched to assist in battling the ongoing wildfires in Canada. Among the DCR crew deployed to Quebec for a span of two weeks was Eryn...
Fueling Resiliency: Why simple and effective fire prevention programs aren’t reaching everyone
These rooftop sprinklers constitute an innovative three-year trial initiative within the Banff Town area. Over the next three years, the initial hundred homeowners who enlist for an annual Fire Smart property inspection will be eligible to acquire the roof-mounted...
Smoke from Quebec fires covering parts of southwestern Europe, NASA says
The U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has reported that satellite pictures captured on Monday reveal smoke spreading over the North Atlantic Ocean and reaching the Iberian Peninsula and various regions of western Europe. According to NASA, the...
‘It burns wild and free up there’: Canada fires force US crews to shift strategy
In the arid, moisture-deprived woodlands of northern California, a well-timed rain shower typically signaled the end of a fire. However, in the marshy landscapes of Alberta, even a late-spring storm had little effect on slowing down the flames. Canada is in the midst...
As Canada’s wildfires intensify, recruiting firefighters is tougher
Canada is currently grappling with its most severe initiation to wildfire season on record. However, provincial officials highlight the escalating challenge of recruiting firefighters due to tight labor markets and the demanding nature of the job. This scarcity of...
‘Really looking forward to it’: Regina Fire’s first female firefighter set to retire
Having dedicated 27 years and 9 months to the Regina Fire Department, Marianne Boychuk has finally reached the point where she believes it is time to retire and bid farewell to her firefighting career. Read More
It’s Canada’s worst fire season in modern history, as smoke fills skies
Canada has once again experienced a period of fire activity, marking it as the most extensive season on record in modern history, as documented by the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Center. Read More
Almost 100 active fires burning in B.C. with some human-caused and suspicious
As of Tuesday afternoon, nearly 100 wildfires are currently ablaze in B.C., prompting officials to issue warnings regarding preventable fires caused by human activities. While the majority of the fires were sparked by lightning, 17 of them have been attributed to...
Deadly crash near Carberry highlights ‘crucial’ role of volunteer firefighters, Manitoba fire chiefs say
Last week, a tragic collision on a highway in southwestern Manitoba claimed the lives of 15 individuals, with volunteer firefighters being the initial emergency responders at the scene. The accident occurred near Carberry and resulted in injuries to 10 others. The...
Here’s how you can help protect your property from wildfire, say safety experts
Fire safety and insurance professionals emphasize that both homeowners and business owners have numerous options at their disposal to minimize or avert damage caused by fires. These measures range from simple and swift tasks to more extensive and costly endeavors that...
Foreign firefighters come to the rescue in Canada’s wildfires
Amidst the relentless infernos that have engulfed Canada's boreal forest, international firefighters have arrived in the hundreds to assist overwhelmed Canadian counterparts in combating these unparalleled wildfires. Within the heart of the scorched wilderness, the...
New technology on Palm Beach allows 911 callers to livestream with dispatchers
Emergency responders in Palm Beach are now benefiting from cutting-edge technology that enables them to access crucial information with unprecedented speed. Recently introduced, the "Prepared Live" program, implemented by the police and fire departments, allows...
Fire to floods: Edson declares local state of emergency due to massive rainfall
Residents of Edson, a town approximately 180 kilometers west of Edmonton, who recently experienced the distressing ordeal of being evacuated twice within a month due to wildfires exacerbated by arid conditions, are now confronted with a contrasting challenge: an...
Fighting fire with fire: How a B.C. Indigenous community is reintroducing traditional fire knowledge and practices to manage land vulnerable to wildfires
As wildfire seasons become longer and more intense, experts say prescribed burns can help prevent forests from becoming out-of-control infernos. For Indigenous peoples, revitalization of traditional fire knowledge and practices is emerging as an important strategy in...
“Let it Burn” is not an Effective Fire Suppression Solution for Battery Energy Storage Systems
Most battery energy storage systems (BESS) utilize lithium-ion batteries. Lithium-ion batteries are relatively inexpensive, possess a high energy density, and can recharge quickly. BESS are being installed faster than they can be adequately tested, leaving many...
‘Crushing consequences’: experts see growing risk as wildfires crash into communities
Former Slave Lake fire chief Jamie Coutts, said wildfires have been burning "hotter, faster (and) crazier" over the last decade, and "every single person that lives in the forest is on a collision course with something disastrous happening." Research suggests that...
IoT and Information Systems in Fire and Emergency Services
The Internet of Things (IoT) is revolutionizing the way that fire and emergency services organizations monitor and respond to emergencies. By integrating IoT and information systems (IS) into devices, such as smoke alarms, motion sensors and cameras, and existing IS,...
Hot Summer Nights: Bringing Fire Departments Closer to the Community
Engaging with the community is an important aspect of a fire department’s work, and one initiative that has proven to be successful in building these connections is the Hot Summer Nights program. We had the privilege of sitting down with Chief Michael Van Dop to...