FireWatch Information | FireWise Consulting

Proposed firefighter training could make recruitment harder

May 1, 2018

According to the Association of Municipalities of Ontario proposed new firefighter certification requirements could make recruiting volunteer firefighters difficult and represent a significant cost to municipalities. Click here to read more.

Saunas help firefighters detox post-fire

May 1, 2018

Chemical detox infrared saunas are being used in some fire departments to help firefighters purge toxins from their bodies after attending fires. Click here to read more.

April in fire history – the Chernobyl disaster

Apr 1, 2018

Firefighters test mask that lets them see through smoke

Mar 30, 2018

Menlo Park firefighters have been testing a mask that outlines all the objects in a room, allowing them to see through smoke. Click here to read more.

Insurers must cover fire engine maker for hearing loss claims

Mar 30, 2018

A state court has ruled an insurance company must cover a fire truck manufacturer against claims from firefighters who say sirens on the manufacturer's trucks have caused hearing loss. Click here to read more.

Phone chargers recalled over fire and electric shock risk

Mar 30, 2018

Health Canada has issued a recall for several brands of uncertified cell phone chargers that pose an "unacceptable risk of electric shock or a fire if used". More than 1.5 million chargers are included in the recall. Click here to read more.

Health Canada issues recall notice for faulty smoke alarms

Mar 30, 2018

Health Canada has issued a recall notice for approximately 40,000 faulty Kidde smoke alarms. The alarms were sold in Canada between November 2016 and January 2018. Click here to read more.

Calgary upholds seven minute fire response target

Mar 30, 2018

Calgary's city council has decided against increasing its fire response target from seven minutes to ten. Calgary's fire chief was concerned the longer response time could result in a higher risk for people and property. Click here to read more.

Calgary contractor calls for mandatory boiler inspections

Mar 30, 2018

After being called in to inspect the boilers at an Airdrie apartment building where a young boy died after being exposed to high levels of carbon monoxide a Calgary contractor is calling on municipal and provincial authorities to make boiler inspections mandatory....

Fire Chief suggests innovative way to create more parking spaces

Mar 30, 2018

Surrey's Fire Chief, Len Garis, has suggested reducing the size of fire hydrant no parking spaces by half would allow firefighters appropriate access while dramatically increasing the number of street parking spaces in Metro Vancouver. Click here to read more.

Up to Code makes life easier for Medicine Hat landlords

Mar 30, 2018

The city of Medicine Hat has introduced a publicly available registry of secondary suites that have been inspected by fire officials who ensure the suites comply with building codes. Thirty-five landlords have applied to the program and another 50 applications are...